BRARY OF CONGRESS. 

^ 



Shelf ^R2i.LZ Z 



UNITED STATES OF AMERIOA. 



AMEvRICAN 



CjlRNilTION CULTURE, 

{^ianthus CaryophvUiis Semperjlorens.) 



ITS CLASSIFICATION, HISTORY, PROPAOATION, VARIETIES, 
CARE, CULTURE. ETC. 




L. L. HAMBORN, 

Ex-EoiTOR OF Ohio Journal of F lori-Culture, FLOt?iST, Etc- 



"Flowers are the alphabet of Angels, by which 
they write on hill and dale nnysterious things." 






ALLIANCE, OHIO, 
1892. 



'6>' 



Entered accordinj? to the Act of Congress, IS87 and 1892, by 

— LORA L. L\MBORN,— 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D, C. 






THE THIRD EDITION OE 

o^^mericau (Laraatioii (Lulliire, 

Is fjespectfully Inscribed to tj 

H. E. CHITTY, OF PATERSON, N. J., 

/f Successful Garqatioq Grower, a lecidiqg coqtributor to tt]e Garqatioq 
Literature of the times, aqd a friend of t/]e auttjor's efforts to make this 
work tf]orougl] aqd practical in its cl]araater. 



%tti^xx^ttt^itxxtt ^ 



^^^HE grace of its form, its wide range of colors, added to 
(WK its exhilarating fragrance, has brought the Carnation 
^^^ Pink into such commercial importance, that it is 
estimated 500,000,000 of its bloom are annually sold 
in America. 

In the ratio that public attention is concentrated upon 
any given species of plant, will the number of its varieties 
increase, and the best methods be adopted to secure it in the 
greatest perfection. Out of the multiplicity of kinds, 
critical public opinion will sanction onl}" the "survival of 
the fittest kinds." 

The Car^'ophyllus branch of the Dianthus family of 
plants is no\y passing through this active phase of its 
history. There are about 10,000 Florists in America 
handling from a few, up to 50,000 Carnation plants 
annually: there are about 200 named varieties of Carnations 
which are, or recently have been, candidates for public favor. 
There has been great confusion as to kinds, and as to treat- 
ment. In 1886 we published the first work on this genus of 
plants, confining our labor chiefly to ''Bianilms Coryo- 
pliyllus SemperfIore?is," and so far as this species Tvas con- 
cerned, attempted to bring some order out of chaos; our efforts 
were appreciated, in two 3-ears the edition was exhausted 
and the demand for the work continued. We present the 
work again, to which is added a list of new and improved 
kinds, and four additional years of the cultural experience 



INTHODrCTION. 

of American Carnation growers, bringing the work up fully 
abreast with all the wisdom on this subject to 1890. 

Though not a matter of great importance, but to round 
into completeness the history of this plant we hfve given 
the lists of kinds that have claimed public attention in 
America, and credited them with the names of the parties 
with whom they originated. 

The coming student of Floral History may find in this 
work some facts rescued from the wasting iiand of time. 

The amateur cultivator of Carnations will find a certain 
guide for his efforts. 

The inexperienced Florist will see plain directions to 
secure success. 

Experienced Cultivators may find suificient of interest and 
profit, to pay them for their perusal of its pages. 

L. L. Lamborx. 




GOjVTFciVTS. 



CHAPTER 1. PAGE 

Commercial Importance of Carnations — Value of the cut- 
Flowers — Statement of John Thorpe — Number of 
Florists in America — Area of Surface Covered with 
Glass — Capital Invested 17 

CHAPTER II. 

Carnations not Naturally Green-house Plants — Amateur Treat- 
ment of Carnations — The Mode That Insures Success — 
How to Make a Carnations Bed — How to Bed Them Out 
The Time to Procure the Plants — The Kinds to Pur- 
chase — Treatment for Summer Bloomiug — Treatment 
for Winter Blooming .: = .... 21 

CHAPTER III. 

Origin of Ever Blooming Carnations — When — Where — By 
Whom, Jean Sisley's Statements — On Propagation — 
Temperature — Cultivation — Carnations Known to the 
Ancients 25 

CHAPTER IV. 

Difference Between a Hybrid and a Cross — Specie — Genus — 
Order — Class — How to Hybridize and Cross — How to 
Select Parents — Gastner's Statements of Chances — 
Hybridizing and Crossing in the Animal Kingdom 29 



10 CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER V. 

I'AGE. 

Botanical Classification of Carnations — Parents of Existing 
Kinds — D. Barbatus — D. Plumaris — D. Chinesus — 
D. Caryophyllus — The Esteem in Which These Plants 
Were Held by the A ncients — Niiml)er of Species — Na- 
tivity — Origin of the Word Dianthus — How to Propa- 
gate 'S'S 



CHAPTER VI. 

Nature's Method of Multiplication — The Florist's Method — 
The Time to Propagate Carnations — The Kind of Cuttings 
to obtain — The Sand — Temperature — John Henderson's 
Views — How to Avoid Decadence — Time Required for a 
Cutting to Root — Object of a Plant's Existence :)8 



CHAPTER VII. 

Area of Leaf Surface of a Plant is the Measure of Moisture it Re- 
quires — The Moisture is Required by Carnations — Cause 
of Carnations Decaying at the Root — Bench Drainage — 
Pot Drainage — Difference Between Watering and Spray- 
ing — When to lift Carnations from the Open ground .... 40 



CHAPTER VI I r. 

Routine of Carnation Culture for Cut Flowers — Rooting Cut- 
tings -- Hardening Off Cattings — Time for the Field 
Planting — Kind of Soil in the Field* — How to Plant in 
the Field — Cultivation in the Field — How to Lift ~ Soil 
on the Benches — Distance Apart on the Benches and in 
the Field — Treatment When Planted on the Benches — 
How to Carry Plants for Spring Sales in Pots — To Se- 
cure Early Out Door Bloom — How to Plant on the 
Benches 47 



(•()>f TEXTS. 11 



CHAPTER IX. PAGE. 

How to Pack Carnation Plants for Shipment — How to Ship 
Cuttings — How to Ship Rooted Cntting-s — How to Ship 
Carnation Flowers — The Proper Shipping Label — Ef- 
fect of Moisture on Carnation Flowers — Difference Be- 
tween a Matured and Immatured Carnation Flower 5.3 

CHAPTER X. 

The Cause of Decadence of the Older Kinds of Carnations — How 
to Renew Native Vigor in Carnations — Individu'.;Jizing 
the Floral Business in America — The Natural and Arti- 
ficial Life of a Phint — Hereditary Weakness and Strength 
in Plants 61 

CHAPTER XI. 

How to Grow Carnation Plants for Autumn, Winter and Spring 
Sales in Pots — How to Grow Large Attractive Plants — 
The Kinds Best Adapted to Pots — The Most Saleable 
Colors — The Different Sorts to Grow for Fall, Winter and 
Spring Sales 65 

CHAPTER XII. 

Diseases of Carnations — Remeclies — Insects — Remedies— Root 
Fungus — Aphis — Red Spider — Carnation Twitttr — 
Brown Mould — J. Talbies' Statements Before the Society 
of American Florists at Philadelphia 67 

CHAPTER XII 1. 

Cause of the Calyx Bursting in Carnations — The Ideal Carnations 
of the Future — Means Adopted by Na'ure to Prevent 
Bursting — Defective Description Given of Carnations — 
Difference Between Early and Late Bloomers — Difference 
B -twetn Crop and Continuous Blojmers Ty 



12 CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XIV. PAGE 

Nature of the Physical Qualites of Carnations — Determined at 
the Moment the Seed is Fertilized — Early, Medium and 
Late Bloomers — Winter and Summer Bloomers — Dwarf, 
Medium and Tall Growers — Shy, Average and Profuse 
Bloomers — Lists of Superior Kinds 77 

CHAPTER XV. 

The Blooming Qualities of Carnations Compared with Other 
Plants — Kind of a House Best Adapted to Growing' Carna- 
tions — How to obtain the Best Flowers and the Greatest 
Quantity — Relative Market Demand for Different Colors — 
The Kinds to Stake — The Different Branches of Carnation 
Grovang — The Average Price for Carnation Flowers — 
Profits of Carnation Growing 81 

CHAPTER XV[. 

How to Grow Carnation Flowers the Year Round — The Varieties 
to Grow for a Succession of Bloom — Types of Classes — 
How to Make Late Kinds Bloom Early — Seedlings for 
Blooming 85 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Artificial and Self Fecundation of Carnation Seed — The Time 
to Fertilize — The Time to Gather the Seed — The Time to 
Sow the Seed — Views of Edwin Lonsdale — Chas. T. 
Starr's System — The Pedigree of the Coming Good 
Kinds 89 

CHAPTER XVIH. 

Chromatics — Nomenclature in Chemistry, Music and in the 
Science of Colors — Carnations with a Solid Color — 
Shaded — Flaked — Penciled — Mottled — Dotted — A 
New and Proper Classification of Carnations, Based on 
Habit of Plants and Their Color 94 



CoisTENTS. 13 



CHAPTP]R XIX. i'A(;e. 

Kinds of Carna'ioiis Grown for the Different Markets of the 
United States — - Flower Merchants — Commission Men 
— Difference in the Price of Flowers, Wholesale and Re- 
tail — Home of the Dianthus Order of Plants — The Car- 
nation Growing Belt or Europe and America -- Effect of 
the Temperate Zone on Tropical Plants. 98 



CHAPTER XX. 

Correspondence — John Henderson -- Edwin Lonsdale - — Nauz 
& Neuner — Deny Zirngiebel — Mrs. E. L. G. Campbell 
— C. W. Re(d -— Hill & Co. — Jordon Floral Co. — W. 
K. Harris — Chas. T. Starr — Walter Coles — Robert 
Craig— W. C. Wilson — R. S. Brown i^^ Son — Peter 
Henderson — Miller & Hunt — Thomas Seal — B. A. 
Elliott & Co 105 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Hardy Scotch Pinks — Difference Between Pinks and Carnations 
— Value of Pinks - Their Beauty and Usefulness — New 
and Improved Kinds — Mode of Propagating Pinks — 
Kinds used for Forcing — Names — De scription -- Cata- 
logue List -- Best Kinds Cultiv^ated in Europe and Amer- 
ica — Chas. T. Starr on Hardy Pinks Ill 



CHAPTER XX 11. 

Tomatoes in Connection with Bench Carnation by Wm. Swayne 
--Advantage to the Carnations -- Time to Sow the To- 
mato Seed -- How to Plant Them on the Benches -- How 
to Feitilize -- How to Prune the Vines -- Time They Be- 
gin to Ripen Their Fruit — Profits on Tomatoes -- Carna- 
tions Bloom Three Weeks Longer with Tomatoes 119 



M CONTENTS 



CHA.PTEKXX1I1. 

Nearly 200 Carnations Catalogued, Classified and Described — 
Divided into 'Old/ 'New' and "Scarce" Kinds -- Thirty 
New and Valuable Sorts that will Appear in 1887 and 1888 

— Synonyms of Existing Kinds — Parents of American 
Sorts — English and European Varieties — CarnaLions in 
California — Names of Persons with whom the Varieties 
Originated — Dr. Denney of England 128 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Complete Catalogue of White — S<'arlet — Pink ~ Crimson — 
Yellow — White-variegated — And Yellow -variegated 
Cksses of Carnations — - Epilogue to First Edition 133 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Recent Improvement in Carnation Culture on size of Field 
Grown Plants — Repetition of Carnation Crops on Same 

Ground — Temperature on the Benches -- Earlier Lifting -- Car- 
nations Without Balls of Earth — Depth of Soil on Benches 

— Hot Water and Steam Heating -- List of New Kinds. . . 158 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

Origin of Plant Life — Cell Germ — Growth by Cells -- Circula- 
tion in Plants — Respiration of Plants — Food of Plants 

— Biennial Plants 168 

CHAPTERXXVll. 

The National Flower of the Republic — Its Requirements — 
Qualifications fully met by Dianthus — Why it Should 
be chosen 179 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

The Cause and Cure of the Versatile Habits of Carna- 
tions—Solid Beds vs. Raised Benches for Carnations 
— Tables of the productiveness of Carnation bloom — 
Registered list of new Carnations 183 



CARNATION CL'LTURK. 15 



Botqiliccil rc\±<\s of q ec[±<^^^\io^ Flo^lei^ 



Fe(/u/ic/e,~Stem that bears the flower. 
Jieceptacie,—Vi:peY end of the Peduncle. 
Calyx,— Cup that surrounds the Corolla. 
Bmcts,Supports arond the base of the Calyx. 
Corolla,— The whole of the blossom. 
Petals,- A leaf of the blossom. 
/Stame/is,—M'd\e organs in Centre of blossom. 
:^ /I the fs,— The enlarged ends of the Stamens. 
Pollen,— The fertilizing dust on the Anthers. 
Filaments, — Stems of the Stamens. 
Pestil, — Female organs in centre of blossom. 
Stigma, — Enlarged end of the Pestil. 
Sygle, — Stem of the Stigma. 
Ovary, — Contains the unripe seed. " 
Ovules, — The unripe seed. 
Pericarp, — Seed vessel containing ripe seed. 
Valves, — Parts, or sections of the Pericarp. 
Seed, — Rudiments of a new plant. 




TlfE GKjVTUl^Y, 




The Magnitude Of 

Carnation Culture. 

CHAPTER I. 

" 'Tis my faith that every flower enjoys tlie air it breathes." 

^.HERE are two classes of persons who will 
;g'' read these pages ; one who is a disinterest- 
ed lover of flowers, and delights to possess 
PSiS''' and cultivate the most beautiful, symmetri- 
cal, fragrant and enduring flower that blooms. 

The other class is less sentimental. Their prac- 
tical enquiry is, what varieties of Carnations will 
afford the most saleable bloom, and yield the most 
flowers for the market? 

What treatment of the Carnation plant will 
secure the most profitable results ? How can I get 
my Carnation plants in pots, in the best condition 
for sale ? How can I hybridize, save the seed and 
secure my chances of obtaining novel and improved 
varieties, &c. ? 

These and many other questions of a practical 
nature, bearing on the cultivation of the Carnation, 
will, it is hoped, be fully ancLclearly set forth in the 
following pages. 



iH CARNATION CULTURE, 

The capital and labor invested in Carnation cul- 
ture has become so great that some authority on the 
proper routine of the business has become impera- 
tive. 

As regards the magnitude of this industry, I 
have no more reliable statistics at hand than those 
given by John Thorp, President of the Society of 
American Florists, at Cincinnati, in August 1885, 
he says : 

"There are not less than eight-thousand Florists 
engaged in the business, either growing plants, or 
raising cut-flowers for sale. Allowing four hundred 
feet of glass covered service to each Florist gives us 
a total of three million two hundred thousand square 
feet of glass, in other w^ords six hundred and thirty 
acres. 

Calculatinof that half of the Hass structures are 
used for growing plants, and one-third of the space 
is actually covered with them, and average the size 
of pots used at three inches in diameter, and allow- 
ing two crops each year, the number of plants would 
be about forty million. 

The remaining half of the glass structures are 
used for the purpose of growing cut-flowers ; the 
actual number produced is almost incredible. 

I can state, however, that during the past season, 
beginning with November and ending with April, 
nine large growers of roses sent into New York 
market, close upon four million of flowers, and when 
I state, this was not fifty per cent of roses sent to 
New York alone, the magnitude of Rose growing 
will be imagined. 

The roses grown arround Boston, Philadelphia, 
Pittsburg, Cleveland, Chicago, Washington and all 



CARNATION CULTURE. I9 

Other places could not be less than twice as many as 
produced for New York market. 

This would bring up the number of cut roses 
produced during- the past season to twenty-four 
fnillion. 

It would be very safe to multiply the number of 
Carnation flowers produced in the same time from 
all sources, by at least five. This would give one 
hundred and twenty-five million, fabulous as it may 
seem, I feel that my calculations are rather under, 
than over the actual number placed on the market 
It would, moreover, be safe to state that at least one- 
fourth as many roses and carnations are annually 
raised by amateur gentlemen, which represents as 
much value as if thrown on the market and sold 
over the counter." 

According to the above statements, there were 
one hundred and sixty-five million Carnation flowers 
raised from Nov. i, 1885 to May i, 1886 under 
glass. 

Granting President Thorp's estimate to be cor- 
rect, it embraces but six months of the twelve. 

There are eight months in the year In which 
the market demand is about equally active, and the 
call for Carnation flowers is in nowise extinguished 
during any part of the year. 

The sale of flowers of this plant during the un- 
estimated six months would be half as much as dur- 
ing the six months estimated. 

If growers realized twelve dollars per thousand 
for the bloom, it would make an aggregate of three 
million of dollars per annum. 



20 CARXATIOX CULTURE. 

This estimate is based on the sale of flowers 
alone, and does not include the sale of bloomine 
Carnation plants in pots, made annually b)' eight 
thousand Florists in this country. 

To this growing industry, which now aggregates 
over three million dollars, in which I have been a 
practical participant from its infancy, I give, in this 
work, much wisdom gathered from other growers, 
as well as my best experience and practice in suc- 
cessful Carnation Culture. 




CHAPTER II. 

rOPU LA R C A RXATI ON C T LTU RE, 

<^> desire in this chapter to clear up some popular 
^Ak . errors, and make it plam to every-one, now 
^J^r^ the\- can successiully otow tlie DiaiitJius, 
Pifii wh-ich is from two Greek words, signiiying the 
"Divine Flower." 

The Carnation is the most popular f.ower 
grown, if we ma}- except the Rose, and it is much 
easier managed than the Rose, with a very little care 
the success in growing Carnations is assured, this is 
far from the case with amateur management oi the 
Rose. 

It is the oTeatest mistake to think that Carna- 
tions can only be successfuly raised in a Green 
House-they are not naturally a Green House plant ; 
they are hardy at any temperature above zero, some 
few varieties are less hardy than others however. 
but the specie is a native of cold high latitudes. 

The plant roots better in a low temperature. 

They are easily forced, or comjpelled to yield 
their blocm out of their natural season, and their 
bloom being valuable, is the reai on why hundred ot 
acres of elass is devoted to forcino- Carnations bv 
heat into flowers. 

It is not because it is a tender Green House 
plant. 



2 2 CARNATION CULTURE. 

The Carnation blooms freely out of doors dur- 
ing August, September and October, and would 
continue to do so for months, did not frost prevent. 

If in this latitude they are properly lifted and 
put in a six inch pot, they will with little care, bloom 
on the window sill till the following June. 

The greatest difficulty is that the atmosphere of 
the sitting room is too warm and dr)^ for them, but 
this is by no means fatal. 

Now suppose you try a few Carnations; you 
send for some young plants in the spring, say April 
or May, I mean young plants. 

It is the nature of the Carnation to live only 
two years. Large plants that have been carried in 
bloom through the winter, are more attractive, but 
worthless, haveing about lived their allotted time. 
The plants when received are small and will not make 
much show in a bed and you may feel dissatisfied. 

The Carnation bed is to be deeply dug up and 
enriched with well rotted manure, entirely free from 
standing water and of upland nature. 

As the plants are almost hardy, they may be put 
out in April or May. If they have been properly 
hardened off prior to being set out, a smart freeze 
will not injure them. 

Through summer they will push up flower 
stalks, which should be broken off within five inches 
of the ground, if the plants are designed for winter 
flowering; this conserves the vital forces of the 
plant for its blooming efforts in winter. If it is not 
designed to lift and pot them in the fall, this topping 
process should not be done. 



CAR NAT I ox CULTURE. 23 

The little Carnation plants should be bedded out 
ten inches apart, each way. 

If the biennial nature of the Carnation plant 
was understood by the people, that is if they but 
knew it was the character of the plant to live and 
flourish through but two seasons, and that they 
must procure young plants every season, the com- 
plaint that they can not succeed well with the 
Carnadon would be ended, and the sale of this 
class of plants would be doubled. 

There is no dispute as to the wants of the 

people for this artistic flower, and there are no 

plants that bear transportation so well, or that are 

furnished by Florists at so small a cost to the 

purchaser. 

You are now cro'mcr to send for some small 

I'll 
Carnadon plants. You are troubled as to kmds and 

colors. Accept the classification of colors adopted in 

this work, which system is adopted in Zirngiebel's 

list, viz: Crimson, Scarlet, Pink, White, Yellow, 

White variegated and Yellow variegated. 

One dozen different Carnadons selected from 
these classes will comprise the most desirable 
shades of colors and markings. 

You can send for your plants to a firm a 
thousand miles away, they will arrive safe by mail or 
express and almost surely grow when they are put 
out, if planted on arrival, in small pots or in shallow 
boxes of soil, not over-watered, and protected from 
too much midday sun for a few days. They will then 
bear full exposure in moderate weather, after which 
they may be planted out where they are to remain 
all summer. 



24 CARNATION CL'LTURE. 

Plants will become more bushy if cut back for a 
time, but their bloom will be retarded. 

If summer flowers are desired only, let the 
plants be tied to neat stakes as they grow^ and buds 
and flowers wdll soon appear. 

If the orrower w^ill be satisfied with later flow^ers, 
cut back the young plants until July ist or after, and 
thus have several stems instead of one, and each 
stem will develop nearly as many buds as the single 
stem. 

If desired mainly for winter bloom in the house, 
they may be cut back until August ist or after, and 
at the approach of frost carefully taken up and pot- 
ted in six-inch pots. These pots should have an 
inch of drainage in the bottom, to counteract 
the effects of to much water. Small pieces of pot- 
tery, brick or gravel answers well. After a few 
days shade, they may be placed in any situation 
in or about the house that is airy and sunny, 
and yet not exposed to cold winds. 

During the Winter they should not be placed 
in too vvarm a room, and the folia^-e should be 
often thoroughly sprinkled with cold w-ater. This 
care will prevent the ravages of the red spider, 
one of the enemies of this class of plants. The 
soil should not be kept too w^et at any time, but 
if sometimes a little dry, plants will not suffer. 



CHAPTER III. 

ORIGIN OF PERPETUAL CARNATIONS. 

^jj^ N another chapter it will be explained how 
i "hybrids" and ''crosses" in Carnations are 
'^ obtained. This chapter has reference to the 
origin of the /fri-/ hybred perpetual Carna- 
tion, by whom produced, and where obtained. 

All of this I think is set at rest by that venera- 
ble and devoted lover of flowers, Jene Sisley, whose 
first double white Geranium (Jene Sisley) has spread 
his name as wide as floral literature is read. 

The temperature he indicates as proper, in 
which Carnation cuttings should be struck, is cer- 
tainly very much too high, but his personal 
knowledge of the origion of this class of plants 
establishes facts, which will grow in interest as time 
goes on. 

I quote entire a communication, written by him 
for, and published in the 14th No. of the American 
Florist. Sisley says: 

"In the ''Revue Horticole" of February last, a 
remarkable article was published on the present 
state of perpetual Carnations. The writer in the 
Revue asks:" 

"Where and how was the culture of the perpetual Carna- 
tion commenced ? Who is the Horticulturist and who first 
applied himself to it? then says: "We do not know." 



2 6 CARNATION CULTURE. 

I think therefore it may interest American Hor- 
ticulturists and amateurs to be imformed of its 
history; which I pubHshed ten years ag"o in a paper 
which had not a wide circulation and in consequence 
I copy as follows: 

"According to several Horticultural writers, the 
Carnation was cultivated more than 2000 years ago. 

But we know no more of what was practiced in 
those times than in any other science, and as it is 
only since the beginning- of this century that the facts 
of nature have really been studied, and we can onh' 
relate what has lately been practiced. 

The perpetual Carnations have been created at 
Lyons. 

It was M. Dalmais, gardener to M. Lacene, a 
celebrated amateur; and founder of the first Horti- 
cultural society of that region, who obtained the 
first really constant blooming Carnation; about 
forty-six years ago. 

He sent it out in 1841. under the name of Atim, 
the production of artificial fecundation of a so called 
species; known by the vulgar name of Carnation of 
Mahon, or of St. Martin, the latter because it was 
blooming by the middle of November; fecundated 
by Carnation Bielson 

This first gain was successively fecundated by 
the Flemish Carnations, and about 1846 he obtained 
a great number of varieties of all colors. 

M. Schmitt a distinofuished Horticulturist of 
Lyon, followed M. Dalmais and obtained several 
fine varieties like Arc en ciel and Etolle Polaire, 



CARNATION CULTURE. 2/ 

which were cultivated for several years, but do not 
exist now, having been superceded by better 
varieties. 

In 1850 a disease having destroyed his collec- 
tion, M. Schmitt abandoned their culture. 

Soon after Alphonso Alegatiere, the well known 
propagator undertook the hybridization of Carna- 
tions, and in a short time obtained great success, 
dotted that series with a great many varieties, all 
particularly dwarf and obtained a very great 
improvement by creating those with stiff lower 
stems about 1866. 

We can thus say that i\legatiere has created a 
new species. 

He has also upset the old system of propaga- 
tion, that of layering, and has proved that 
propagation by cutdngs is the best and most reason- 
able method and produces the best plants; and 
thus justified my saying that layering is the infancy 
of the Horticultural Art. 

And he has demonstrated that nothing is 
easier than propagating Carnations by cuttings. 

The best time to strike them, is in January and 
February and the best mode is to put them in a 
bench of fine sand, in a span roof house, without 
bell glasses. 

The benches being heated underneath by hot 
water pipes to 60 or 70 degrees. 

The cutdngs strike root from three to five 
weeks. 



28 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



The sand must be kept moist and the cuttings 
syringed every day. 

They can be placed out in April or May, and 
will soon make fine plants to bloom in Autum. 

Jene Sisley, 
Feb. 1886. Monplaiser, Lyons, France. 




!l!^J^I!^l|<-j||i-^!lfeil0i,(pJ(^,Pi(^f-),,PG)i,(^ilPi|(;)i,^^ 



CHAPTER IV. 

HOW NEW VARIETIES OF CARNATIONS ARE OBTAINED. 

.^I^^EW varieties of Carnations are obtained by 
^ hybridization and crossing. A cross is the 
f product of sexual fertilization between two 

^^ $ Pinks of the same variety. 

' D. Hcdazvigi and D. Lancinatus, are two 
varieties. 

The seeds of one fecundated with the pollen 
of the other, might germinate, grow, and blow a 
Pink different from ekher of its parents. This would 

be a cross. . 

A hybrid is the result of the sexual union ol 
male and female of different species. 

Dianthus Barbatus is one species', Dianthus 
Plumaris is another species of the gemis Dianthus 
order Digynia, class Decandria. 

The seeds of an individual member of one of 
the above species, fertilized with the pollen from a 
member of the other species, would produce a hybrid 
Pink; likely to difter from the type of its parents 
in the ratio that they differ from each other. 

As a rule, in both the animal and vegetable 
kingdoms, sexual unions takes place only between 
individuals of the same variety. 

It is by the play of this rule, or law, that vari- 
eties 2.x^. indefinitely maintained with unvarying char- 
acteristics. 



30 CARNATION CULTURE. 

Crosshig in nature is not very common; hybri- 
dization is extremely rare. 

i\s a rule hybrids are not fertile. 

The progeny of the Horse and Ass, Sheep and 
Goat; Dog and Wolf; Caucasian and African, are 
sterile so far as reproducing themselves with 
themselves. 

But in a majority of cases, in both Kingdoms, 
the hybrid will breed with one of the original types 
back into that type. 

Nature revolts at hybridization, and refuses to 
perpetuate the mongrel race. 

Crossing is very common by the intervention 
of the Florist's art. He further circumvents nature by 
dexterously avoiding abortive sexual unions to 
perpetuate his choice hybrid, and indefinitely con- 
tinues and multiplies it by layers, grafts, and 
cuttings. 

But hybridization is a much more difficult 
accomplishment. 

Gaestner, who is very high authority, says that 
out of one thousand carefully conducted experiments 
fecundation was achieved in only two hundred and 
fifty-nine cases. 

In hybridizing, it is necessary to prevent the 
flower used as the mother, or seed bearer, from 
being fertilized with its own pollen. 

The operator is favored by the fact that the 
pollen retains its vitality for some time after it is 
removed from the flower which produced it. 

It is probable that with this, as with seeds, the 
duration of vitality varies in different species ; at all 



CARNATION CULTURE. 3 I 

events, It is known that some pollen will keep for 
weeks, and even months.. 

The flower selected as the seed bearer, should 
be the most vigorous plant and taken just as it is 
about to open, and before any insects can have 
visited it; the envelopes are carefully opened, or 
removed, and if a perfect flower, its still unopened 
stamens are cut away with a delicate pair of scissors, 
the foreign pollen applied to the stizma with a small 
brush and the flowers enclosed in a bag of gause to 
prevent the access of insects, which would probably 
bring the pollen of some other kind to interfere with 
the action of the strange pollen. 

It is by following the process I have recited 
that the different variedes of Carnations have been 
obtained. 

The operadon is delicate and the chances of 
obtaining a Carnation better than some existing 
varieties is less than one in a thousand. 

But this should not deter florists and amateurs 
from seeking to create new varieties of plants ot 
every kind. 

It is the most fascinating part of a florist's 
business to watch a properly fecundated seed from 
the tiny seed leaves to the mature plant. The 
developing bud has a center of interest that no 
other bud can have. Will the flower be double or 
single, large or small, white, red, yellow, purple? and 
a dozen other unknown possibilities existing to stim- 
ulate interest and curiosity, lies hidden within 
that calyx. 



32 



CARNATION CUI TL RE. 




O 

O 

o 

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CO 

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o 

(D 

o 

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O 

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CHAPTER V. 

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION OF CARNATIONS. 

DiauthUS. From dios, divino, and anthos, ii flower; in 
reference to the fragrance and the unrivaled neatness 
of the flowers. Linn. Decandria-Digynia. Nat. Ord. 
Caryophyllaceoe. 

|HE Carnation belongs to a class of plants 
whose family name is Caryophyllaceo: of the 
genus DiantJuis, order Digynia. class 
Decandria. The DiantJnts genus of plants 
includes annual and perennial herbs, with opposite, 
narrow, often rigid grass-like leaves, the flowers 
with their parts in fives; the long tubular calyx is 
five toothed at the apex, and bracked at the base. 

The five petals have very long slender stalks, 
or claws, stamens ten, styles two; the ovary ripen- 
ing as a one cell seed vessel; open at the apex by 
four valves and containing numerous seeds which 
are flat on the back, and of a blackish color. 

There are but few of this family which merits 
the attention of Florists. 

The books enumerate about 200 species; none 
of them natives of America except D. Repens, w^hich 
is found on the coast of Kotzebues Sound, and other 
high latitudes, 

D. Armeria and D, Prolifica, found in the 
Atlantic states are introduced weeds. 



34 CARNATION CULTURE. 

A number of the genus are troublesome weeds, 
as Stelllaria Media, the common Chickweed, so well 
known and troublesome in gardens through the 
cooler months of Autumn. 

The four varieties in which is centred all there 
is of floral value are : 
D. Barbatus, 
D. Plumaris, 
D. Chinesis, 
D. Caryophyllus, 

D. Barbatus is better known by the name of 
"Sweet William," it differs from the other species by 
forming a flat top cluster, crowned with various 
colored small flowers. It is a native of Europe. 

An improved straim called the Arricular flower- 
ed, is very fine, from the distinct markings of the 
petals, some of the double sorts are rich, and 
remain in flower a long time. 

It is a perennial, but usually treated as a 
biennial. 

Seeds sown in the Spring will produce plants 

for flowering the following season. 

Dianthus Plumaris, is a native of Europe, but 
naturalized in many other countries. 

It has several Botanical and common names, as 
Pheasant eye Pink, Bunch Pink, Cushion Pink, &c. 

It is a low hardy perennial, blooming early in 
the Summer. 

The flowers are of a pale pink color, petals 
fringed and a pleasant fragrance. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 35 

The improved varieties are double white, and 
double pink. 

Dianthus Chinesis, is a biennial, but flowers 
the first season from seed, and presents a great 
variety of colors in double and single flowers. 

It is very showy, but without fragrance. 

Seed saved and sown from D. Barbatus and 
D. Chinesis, will sport in endless varieties, in both 
form and color, in a bed containing hundreds of 
seedlings, there can scarcely be found two alike. 

D. Lanciniatus, D. Heddewiggii and D. 
Diadematus, are sports of D. Chinesis, and are 
highly prized garden flowers. 

The Picotee Pink has the color making the 
variegation only on the edge of the petals in a broad 
or narrow band, and if it ramifies tow^ard the center 
of the flower, it must be connected with the color on 
the edge. 

It is a cross or sport, or hybrid from the type 
or species mentioned. 

The Florists Pinks have the color between the 
base and edge of the petals, and in the whole flower, 
it must be in concentric circles. It is the progeny 
of D. Plumaris. 

D. Caryoph\'llus is found growing wild in the 
South of Europe. 

It is the fragrance of this variety resembling the 
Clove spice of commerce, that gave the family 
name of C'.iryophylliis to the Pink species of plants. 

This has lone" been a favorite flower, and its 
cultivation, crossing and hybridization has produced 
the grand Carnation of to-day. 



36 CARNATION CULTURE. 

The Carnation Pink is the highest perfection 
attained from the wild single D. Caryophyllus. 

The Florists cultivation, crossing, and hybridi- 
zation, has been so successful with this class of 
plants, that there is little left to be desired. 

The range of colors attained is so extended, 
artistic, the grace of the flower so perfect, its 
durability so great, and its fragrance so delicious, 
that the Carnation now takes its stand in the 
esteem of the lov^ers of flowers and in commercial 
importance and value, close beside the Rose. 

Dianthus comes from two Greek words dios, 
divine, anthos, flower. 

The ancients in naming this flower, even in its 
single undeveloped state, refers to its beauty, color 
and symmetry. 

The Rose receives a high ethical name, the 
''Queen of Flowers!' 

The Camelia, the ''Rose of Japan," the Chry- 
santhemum, the "Queen of Autumn." 

In grace of form and neatness, the Carnation is 
the equal- of any other flower. 

It is unrivaled in the wide variety of its rich 
tints of scarlet, crimson, rose and orange, in its 
pencilings of carmine and rose; its blotches and 
flakes of maroon and black, and in its peculiarly 
grateful and exhilerating fragrance; it stands without 
a peer. 

The bestowal on this flower of especial favors 

by nature, is recognized in a language 3000 years 
old. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



37 



If the Pink in its original primative simplicity 
was worthy the Greek name of dio-antkos\ the 
grand evolved Carnadon of to-day more than merits 
to be crowned the 

''Divine Flow^er." 

" TJie Sweetest S?nile of Nature^- 





CHAPTER VL 

PROPAGATING CARNATIONS 

^ ROPAGATION of plants by any process 
which imitates the methods of nature by 



which she muhipHes her species, cannot be 
followed by any inherent weakness in the 
new plant, or its progeny. 

Striking Strawberry plants from the joints in 
the earth, in plunged pots; the division of the roots 
of the Blackberry; bending the canes of the Rasp- 
berry, that the top may touch and root in the earth; 
sowine seed and makincr the conditions favorable 
for germination and rapid growth, are all imitations 
of Natures methods. 

But in the creation of plants, Nature impressed 
upon the canes, or shoots of many of them, the 
possibilities under favorable circumstances of throw- 
ing out adventitious roots and thus become 
separate living organisms with all the lineaments of 
the parent plant. 

But Nature never propagated a Carnation by 
cutting a shoot, or incipient cane from the side of 
the old plant and bid it take upon itself a separate 
existence. 

A plant focalizes all its vital forces in the per- 
fection of its seed, and in the annuals and biennials, 
the circle of life is complete when this is done, and 
the plant dies. 



CAi'NATIOX CULTIRE. 39 

It is for this purpose alone that it Hvecl. 

Nature has no green-house sufficiently conven- 
tional in which a Carnation cuttingr will strike root 
and live. 

The conditions under which many kinds 
will root at all, are so ricjid, and exactincr, that the 
ingenuity of man can scarcely achieve the result. 

In fact Nature revolts at this mode of multipli- 
cation, but it is our only means to pepetuate kinds, 
and produce quantities. 

The Florist complies with Natures exactions and 
furnishes the conditions, and she reluctantl)- fields. 

If the Florist succeeds in tlie difficult task, it 
would be natural to expect a diterioated organism, 
and weakened life. 

To avoid a natural decadence, it is of the first 
importance to start with a proper cutting, from a 
health)' plant and maintain for it the most favorable 
conditions. 

The most favorable conditions can be obtained 
from November to April. 

The cutting should be a side shoot from the 
plant or cane, about three inches long, and show no 
sings of shooting a flower stem. 

The slip can be broken off with the fingers, and 
put directly in the cutdng bed. without the use of a 
knife, and they will as certainl)' root as if trimmed 
and smoothly cut at the end. 

The wet clean sand in the cutting bench is 
smoothed with a trowel and then cut, the trowel 1 einr 
gauged b)- a strip of lath. 



40 CARNATION CULTURE. 

The cuttings are placed in this incision in the 
sand, which are two inches apart, and the cuttings 
need not be more than half an inch apart, the sand 
should be firmed along the line of cuttings with the 
point of the trowel, and further compacted around 
the cuttings by a thorough wetting. 

When a small number of cuttings are to be 
struck, a shallow box filled with sand can be used 
with more convenience than the bench. 

There are some advantages in using boxes when 
the plant is to be extensively propagated, the boxes 
can be moved around, giving the cuttings new 
facings to the ViQ-ht and air. 

Cuttings of the Carnation can remain in the 
sand a long time after being rooted. 

We have set out the cuttings direct in the 
field from the sand, and they made good plants 
by Fall. 

But we do not recommend this plan. 

An inch of soil in the bottom of the box, 
and two inches of sand on the top, will afford 
root food for the cuttings, which would other-wise 
be weak. 

The cuttings should be sprinkled with a fine 
rose once aday, and they will root in about three 
weeks. 

The temperature should range from 45 to 65 
degrees, and good ventilation maintained. 

A biennial involves the idea of a period of 
rest in the activity of the plant's vital forces. 

It would seem reasonable in the cultivation of 
this plant that this natural habit should be respected 
if the best results are desired. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 4 1 

Mr. John Henderson in his address before die 
Society of American Florists at Cincinnati, touches 
significantly on this point in the following language. 

"Of late )ears one of the most annoying 
diseases attacking plants is that effecting Carnations, 
and it is undoubtedly caused by working our stock 
}'ear after year at a high temperature, which weakens 
the general vitality, and the diseases, be it a fungus 
or an insect, quickly follow^s. 

In the Fall of 1883, we had a surplus of two 
varieties of Carnations and, rather than too throw 

them away we "heeled" them in, in a cold frame, put- 
ting straw mats on the glass in extreme weather. 

They wintered well, and in March we put in a 
few hundred cuttino^s of each; we marked them, and 
last Winter they were the best plants we had, not 
one of them dying off, while we lost hundreds of the 
same kind in our reoular stock. 

And I firmly believe if this plan were adopted of 
winterinor Carnations that the Carnation disease 
would disappear. 

Another and perhaps more practical way ot 
avoiding the difficulty, we have practised for years, 
and that is to propagate our stock as early as possi- 
ble in the Winter, and after they have become 
established, knocking them out of the pots and 
putting them in shallow boxes in cold frames. 

This gives them some of the needed rest and 
the good effect is very marked." 



42 



CARNATION CULTURE, 




A TYPE OF THE WHITE CLASS 
OF CARNATIONS. 




CHAPTER VII. 

THE PROPER MOISTL'RE FOR CARNATIONS. 

ARNATION plants are impatient of wet 

undrained soil, either in the field, on the 

benches, or in pots. The physical structure 

of the plant convinces us of this without an\' 

knowledge of the fact practically. 

Careful experiment has disclosed the fact, that 
one square foot of leaf surface will, during fair 
weather, exhale vapor at the rate of one and a 
quarter ounces daily, at night the rate is one fifth as 
rapid as during the day, and during rainy weather 
a perfect equilibrium is restored betweed the exhal- 
ing and absorbing forces, and there is no evaporiza- 
tion. 

Comparing the narrow rigid grass like leaves 
of the Carnation, estimate the area of leaf surface 
with most other plants, and it will be seen the water 
evaporating capacity of the foliage, and consequent- 
ly the water absorbing capacity of the roots to be 
comparatively limited, so what would be sufficient, 
moisture, or wet, for many other plants would be an 
excess, and deleterious to the Carnation. 

The Carnation likes a moist cool atmosphere, 
hence they should be sprinkled or sprayed frequently, 
but not too much moisture about the roots. 

The cause of Carnations on benches rotting off 
at the surface, is caused by too much moisture, in 



44 CARNATION CULTURE. 

connection with them being- planted in the bench 
soil higher or deeper than the\' were in the soil in 
which they grew in the field, and b)' bad quality of 
bench earth, the latter is fatal, no matter how open 
for drainage the bench boards are. 

If the bench earth is made out of imperfect 
rotted, or spongy manure, and the Carnation planted 
too low, it will certainly decay at the root. 

The skin or rind of the stalk above and below 
the surface differs as much as the mucus membrane 
of the mouth does from the epidermis of the cheek. 

Either can be converted and made to discharge 
the functions of the other under favorable conditions, 
but if circumstances are unfavorable there v/ill be 
trouble in both cases, in the transfer of dudes. 

This decay of the Carnation at the root is not 
a disease, it is simple mismanagement of the plant. 

The drainage of plants in pots must be perfect- 

Flat or shallow boxes in which cutting^s are 
transplanted from the cutdng bench, should have 
holes bored in the bottom of each box. 

Plants carried in cold frames must have perfect 
drainage. 

Plants lifted from the open ground and planted 
on benches for winter blooming, should be done 
after a rain, in cloudy weath(^r if possible, with an 
unbroken ball of earth adherino- to each root, when 
transplanted they should be sprayed, and the eardi 
only moderately wetted. The soil on the benches 
should never be permitted to become sodden and 
sour. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 45 

Frequently spraying the Carnations after trans- 
planting as with other plants, discharges a two fold 
purpose in keeping with the scientific principle' 
before stated. 

It does aw^ay with the absorbing labor of the 
roots, which can not for a time be discharged, by the 
reason of them being ruptured and displaced. Then 
the evaporization of the sprayed moisture on the 
foliage absorbs heat as it passes into vapor, which 
is grateful to the vital forces of the plant. 

The sand on the bench in which the cuttings 
are placed, should be quite wet and the cuttings 
daih' dampened with a fine rose watering pot until 
they begin to strike root, when both top aod bottom 
moisture can be somewhat reduced. 

Wet is ver)- damaging to the bloom of the 
Carnation. 

The bloom should be picked before the bench 
is watered, and possibh' this flower is the onl}- one 
that is shipped to market, often hundreds of miles 
distance without the least moisture being allowed 
about it. 

It is impossible to sa}' how often this plant 
should be watered. 

As a rule they should be watered when the)' 
need it, and a dr)' condition of the ground, and the 
first signs of the plant flagging for moisture, shows 
thev need it. 

The conditions are these: that Carnations do 
not need as much water, or as frequent applications 
of it as many other plants; that the)- rapidly" recover 



46 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



themselves after havinof suffered for the want of 
water without material injury; that a wet sodden soil 
is ruinous to the plant; that more harm results from 
over- watering than from under- watering; that 
experience as well as the physical anatomy of the 
plant, points to moderate moisture for the plant, and 
perfect drainage for the roots. 





CHAPTER VIII. 

ROUTINE OF Cx\RNATION CULTURE FOR CI T FLOWERS. 

^UTTINGS, or rooted plants are obtained in 
^ the early Sprini^ months for the stock of 
fej Carnations which are to be grown through 
§ the Summer for Winter bloom on benches. 

If the Florist propagates them himself, he is 
refered to the chapter on this subject. 

The plants should be hardened off in a cold 
frame, and as soon as all danger of freezing is over, 
planted out in the open Carnation field. 

A moderate freeze would not damage a harden- 
ed off Carnation plant, but the danger is, it may not 
be in this condition. 

A perfectl)' hardy plant is very tender when 
grown in a high temperature. 

It is hard to determine by sight, when it has 
attained its true resisting nature to cold. 

The chances are it is preternaturally tender, if 
grown in a glass house, even with little fire heat. 

Hence the precaution is so necessary to harden 
it off, before exposing it to the vicissitudes of the 
open temperature of the early Spring months. 

i\s soon as the ground can be properly worked, 
varying from the 20th of April, to the 20th of May, 
in this latitude, it is made ready for the young 
plants. 



48 CARNATION CULTURE. 

It should be of a clayey nature, well under- 
drained heavily coated with finely rotted manure, 
deeply ploughed, thoroughly pulverized with a 
harrow, evenly rolled, and acurately marked out, 
both ways, having the crosses for the plants, ten 
inches apart each way. 

Holes are made with a foot dibber in which the 
plants are firmly planted. 

The plants are w^orked early and frequently 
during the season, both ways with "Planet" 
cultivator. 

All alleys, or paths throug'h a Carnation field 
should be avoided. 

The weeders should throw the weeds in a box, 
or basket, provided with temporary feet and handle, 
and carry them off the field. 

Carnations require to be kept free from weeds; 
this with breaking off the flower shoots as they 
appear during the season,' is all attention they 
require until the latter part of September. 

By this date, the Carnation benches in the 
house, or houses are prepared for the plants by 
being filled with soil four inches deep, or if the 
benches were occupied with Carnations the previous 
year, it should be turned over, removing the bulbs 
of the old Carnations, and one-fifth of the soil and 
replenish with fresh earth to this amount. 

The balls of earth adhering to the roots of the 
plants will deepen the bench soil one inch. 

There is danger of having the soil on the 
benches too rich, and the bottom too light, this will 
not afford good drainage. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 49 

All danger to a good crop of Carnation flowers 
lies in these two possible errors. 

If the soil is to poor, it is easily enriched with 
bone dust, liquid manure, or fine compost distrib- 
uted between the rows with the hands. 

I would fill the benches with orood crarden soil. 

The benches being ready, and taking the 
advantage of cool damp weather, the Carnation 
plants are lifted with a ball of earth adhering to each, 
which, when planted, will increase the depth of bench 
earth one inch. 

The adhesion of a ball of earth to the roots, 
cannot be obtained in sandy soil, but fortunately 
this is not the kind of soil suited to the Carnation. 

The operation of lifting is performed with a 
concave spade, one person using the spade, another 
seizing the ball as it is raised to the surface, and 
removing the surplus earth, places it slantingly in a 
box. 

The filled boxes are hauled on a sled to the 
front, or rear doors of the Carnation house. 

The Carnation field should be near the houses. 

Five men will lift and transplant 20,000 plants 
on benches in one wxek. 

Excavations are easily made with the hand in 
the finely pulvarized soil on the benches, dovrn to 
the bottom, in which the ball is placed, the point 
resting on the boards and the soil brouQ-ht around it 
and firmly pressed. 

The plants on the benches being of medium size 
should be planted eight inches apart each wa)', and 
two inches from the maroin of the bench. 



^O CARNATION CULTURE. 

All benches in Green-houses should have an 
air space intervening" between the benches and 
dead wall. 

The plants being- in place on the benches, 
should be freely sprayed and the soil moderately 
dampened. 

The doors and ventillators should be left open 
until required to be closed by severe weather, 
approching freezing, out side. 

The plants will not need shading-, if lifted after 
a rain. 

The necessary watering, ventillating, tempera- 
ture, weeding and fumig'ating, are all there is to 
attend to, except to pluck the flowers, until the follow- 
ing April, when the power of the sun will be so great 
that the plant will need shading by strong lime 
water on the glass. 

The lime water may be thrown on the glass 
with a syringe, or applied with a common white 
wash brush. 

A simple and cheap shading is made by mix- 
ing Naptha with a little white lead, so as to give it 
the color of thin milk and apply it with a syringe. 

The intensity of the sun rays m?ist be modified 
without materially lessening the light, if blooming 
Carnations are to be successfully carried far into the 
hot months in the house. 

The above mentioned means are the best known, 
and will remove themselves in the Fall after the 
first frost. 

The early blooming kinds when they show signs 
of exhaustion, their vigor may be renewed by strong- 
liquid manure. 



CARNATION CULTURE, 5 I 

The earlier and later varieties, if watered and 
shaded, will condnue to afford bloom undl the 
first of the following August. 

After this the bloom is so scarce, and the 
demand so light, the plants will not repay further 
care, and will die and leave the benches in 
the condidon found at the commencement of this 
chapter. 

The best plants for Fall lifting and Winter 
bloomino-, are trrown from cuttino-s taken from the 
plant as soon as the temperature is favorable for 
them strikino-, and before there has been much 
artificial heat applied; and carried until the following 
Spring in a low temperature. 

Carnations can be well carried through the 
Winter by filling boxes w^ith the lifted plants and 
placing them in cold frames. 

The smallest plants from the field, put in three 
inch pots and shifted into larger pots in March, will 
make fine pot plants for the Spring sales. 

Plants from the field can be lifted and heeled in, 
in a cold frame and potted in the Spring. 

If planted ten inches apart in a cold frame, 
and the sides of the frame removed in the Spring, 
they will bloom early and profusely. 

Mice are the greatest enemy to Carnation s 
in cold frames during Winter. 

The varieties of Carnations to cultivate, most 
profitably, for cut flowers depends on the market to 
be supplied, and adaptability of plants to the soil of 
the localit)'. 

Our market requires three or four white Carna- 
tions to one colored. 



52 CARNATION CULTURE. 

It Is different from other markets. In a stock 
of 20,000 housed plants we would have one-half 
Snowdens, one fourth Henzies and Hendersons, 
the other fourth would consist of Seawan and Black 
Knig-ht, crimson; Garfield and Lady Emma, scarlet; 
Grace Farden and Grace Wilder, pink; Chester Pride 
and Mrs Carnagie, white-variegated; Sunrise and 
Butter Cup, yellow-variegated. 

With this list w^e commence shipping flowers, 
from the houses, on October i, and continue until 
the first of the following August. 

This stock requires 12,000 square feet of glass 
and will average fifteen flowers per plant. . 





CHAPTER IX. 

HOW TO PACK AND SHIP CARNATION PLANTS AND THE 

CUT FLOWERS. 

I HERE is but one way to ship cut flowers, 
that is the right way. There is a doubt 
whether that way is yet discovered. There 
are many ways of packing; if the right one 
was known, there would be but one mode. 

The field is open to an inventive practical mind. 

Carnation flowers are not as difficult to pack 
for transportation as other flowers. 

They* differ in this repect, that they are always 
shipped dry. 

Light wooden boxes, of dimensions correspond- 
ing in size with the quantity to be shipped; is the 
best plan. 

They are not likely to be crushed and water 
does not effect them. 

The lid should be huncr on hinQ-es, and the box 
have an efficient clasp. Express Companies return 
these boxes gratutiously. 

The number of boxes needed is proportioned 
to the frequency of shipments and the number of 
patrons. 

A set of boxes will last two seasons. 

A box two and a half feet long, by fifteen inches 
wide and deep, will hold six or seven hundred 
Carnation flow^ers. 



54 CARNATION CULTURE. 

There should be a light partition in each box 
equally dividing the space, the pressure of the flowers 
on each other is thus reduced, and they will open in 
much better shape 

In quite cold weather the boxes can be lined 
inside with sheet cotton tacked to the bottom, sides 
and top. 

Oiled paper should be betw^een the cotton and 
the flow^ers. 

With this precaution, it is very rarely that 
Carnation flowers will be damaged by cold, even if 
th^ thermometer should reach 20 degrees below 
zero. 

In warm weather all lining is unnecessary 
except the oil paper. 

In very warm weather, and for a long journey, 
ice wrapped in woollen cloth and securely fastened to 
the bottom of the box, can be used to great advan- 
tage, if the moisture can be kept from coming in 
contact with the flowers. 

Moisture soon discolors and damages Carnation 
flowers. 

The Carnation flower should open and mature 
on the plant; an inmature floweret will soon 
shrivel, a niahired one is the most lasting of all 
flowers. 

They should be kept perfectly dry after packing, 
and thus shipped, at the end of a five hundred mile 
journey, will open up nicely. 

On some varieties of Carnations, the flowers 
mature in a close cluster of buds, such cannot be 
picked with a stem, while other kinds have a single 
flower on a long stem. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 55 

Flowers with long stems command 25 to 50 
cents per hundred more than those without stems; 
by reason of the delay and expense of stemming 
which is avoided. 

Flowerets with their calyx torn are valuable; 
the process of stemming cures largely this defect. 

A package of cut flowers should be labeled 
very legibly. 

The shipping tag should bear the date of 
shipment, this imforms the consignee the length of 
time the package has been on the road and thus 
locates the responsibility. 

The safe and speedy transportation of flowers 
often depends on the package being marked with a 
noticeble tag. 

The contents at once becomes known to the 
Express Agent, its perishable nature is obvious to 
him, and on many rail roads he is instructed to give 
such packages special care. 

The shipping tags adopted for cut flower 
packages by the Society of American Florists 
admirably serves its purpose. 

The Society is making arrangements with 
Express Companies that all packages bearing this 
tae shall have the care its contents demand. 

I have so frequently seen the great advantages of 
this tag that I deem it proper to give a fac-simile 
of it on another page, and feel warranted in saying 
that every shipper of cut flowers should use it. 

An Electrotype of the leaf can be cheaply 
obtained at the office of the American Florist, 
Chicago. 



^6 



CARNATION CULTURE. 






fe:^!^t^!<5i:^!^•^!^^!^l^!^^I^i2^!4li^!<?i^?^^?^?ti?^?^^?^^'!^^'!^^?^i 




Shipping Label adopted by tha Society of American Florists. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 57 

With the employes of Express Companies it 
will soon become the synonym of cut flowers. 

Carnation cuttini^s from the bench are taken up 
carefully without breakinir the terminal parts of the 
roots which are very tender. 

A great deal of sand will adhere to the roots, 
they are all laid in neat bunches of twenty-five or 
fifty each, being counted as tiie)' are lifted from the 
sand, some moderately dampened moss is placed 
around the roots of each bunch, which are then 
wrapped in paper sufficiently strong not to rupture 
when dampened by the moisture ot the moss. 

The paper is folded back over the top of the 
cuttino-s so as not to break or crush them. 

These bunches should then be placed firmly in 
a box appropriate in size to the quantity of cuttings 
desired to be shipped, with the roots toward the end 
of the box and tops toward each other. 

The wrapped roots should be placed on top of 
each other and never rest on the tops of the cuttings. 

The tier of bunches must be firmly and securely 
confined, in just the position they are placed by 
additional packing, or cleats placed against them on 
the inside of the box, fastened by nails driven from 
the outside of the box. 

This plan is for large quantities by express. 

Thousands of cuttings in small quantities are 
now shipped by mail ; the same principle must be 
adopted, put them in a box not easily crushed and 
have them immovably confined in the box. 

They will carry if properly packed across the 
ocean and back again, and then grow. 



5 8 CARNATION CULTURE. 

The past Winter I shipped 2000 cuttings 
thus packed, to IlHnois. By mistake of the Express 
Company, they were carried to a town of the same 
name in a different county of the state, and twenty 
days expired before they could be traced, and reach 
the consignee, he made the best out of the consio-n- 
ment when received, and one-half of them grew and 
did w^ell. 

In shipping Carnations that have grown in potS' 
they are knocked out. and the balls carefully wrapped 
in paper, and confined securely as they are packed in 
the box; the moss can be omitted unless the distance 
is very great. 

Carnations that have become established in 
pots are taken from the boxes and treated as 
cutdngs from the bench, for shipment, or as is often 
desired by the purchaser; they may be shiped in the 
tiats, undisturbed, the tops being protected by lath 
nailed on the box, around, and over them. 

Blooming Carnation plants in pots should be 
shipped in boxes at least as deep as the pots are 
high, firmly filling the space between the pots as 
they are placed in the box with straw, damp moss, 
sawdust, fine shavings, or any other proper material. 

They should be so firmly packed that they will 
not shake or move in handling the box. 

The canes of the plants will extend above the 
sides of the box, and they should be protected by 
nailing a strip around them sufficiently high above 
the top of the plants to sustain them from injury. 

Most varieties of Carnadons now in cultivation 
need to be staked; this should be done before they 
are boxed. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 59 

The Carnation of the future will have canes 
stiff enough to support the flowerets without the aid 
of stakes. 

In shipping Carnations from the open ground? 
they should be taken up with an unbroken ball of 
earth adhering to the roots, this ball should be 
wrapped firmly with strong paper, and thoroughly tied 
and then packed as the pot plants, erect, or inclined 
in a box high enough to protect the tops of the 
plants. 

There should be three inches of hay or straw in 
the bottom of the box to break the force of rough 
handling. 

Plants taken from the field in the Fall are 
designed for Winter blooming, by the purchaser, if 
the earth is detatched from the roots by being 
lifted from sandy soil, or breaking the ball if 
lifted from clayey soil; the life forces of the plant will 
be much interrupted and its recovery is slow and 
doubtful. 

It is however conceded that sandy soil is 
not best adapted to the nature of Carnations. 



6o 



CARNATION CULTURE. 







A TYPE OF THE YELLOW-VARIE- 
GATED CLASS OF CARNATIONS. 




CHAPTER X. 

THE causp: of the decadence of older kinds of 

CARNATIONS. 

plant living- a natitval life is surrounded with 
a sufficient number of varying conditions in 
nature, bearing upon its perfect develope- 
[jpli?'"' ment. that uniform results in obtaining 
perfect plants of any kind, is far from uniform, even 
under these most favorino- circumstances. 

But in a plant living an artificial life from its 
birth to its decay, these conditions are vastly muLi- 
plied. 

Not only are these besetments greatly aug- 
mented, but each one becomes a potent pearl 
threatening the usefulness, if not the life of the plant. 

As a rule the natural mode of propagating plants 
is by seed; most of the esteemed hybrid plants, are 
sterile, so these must be continued by cuttings. 

This first step is one not in full accord with the 
laws of nature. 

In almost every instance the plant from which 
the cutting is taken has been artificiall)' handled, 
therefore there is a lessened probability of perfect 
health and vigor in the parent plant, hence a 
probable condition of inherent weakness of the vital 
forces of the cuttincr. 



62 CARNATION CI LTURE. 

The broadening effect of this hereditary taint is 
a cause of the decHne and exdnguishment of valuable 
varieties in both Floriculture and Horticulture. 

This principle will apply to all varieties ot 
Carnadons in culdvation in this country. 

The principle of deterioration, is often much 
more acdve in a particular stock of a variety, 
in possession of a Florist. 

With him the process of decadence has been 
hastened by less skilful handling, or other favoring 
circumstances. 

The severed Carnation cutting (as well as the 
cutdng of any other plant) faces a trying eftort for 
existence and fruidon; full of vicissitudes and danger 
which human sagacity can scarcely circumvent. 

The purity of the sand in which it is placed; 
proper moisture; temperature; light; vendladon; 
time of removal from the bench; the soil and 
drainage in which the. cutdngs are transplanted; its 
transfer to the open field; culdvadon; again, soil and 
drainage; culdvadon; heading in; dme and manner of 
lifdng; again, soil and drainage on the benches, 
(or in the pots;) temperature, ventilation and fumi- 
gation of the houses. 

Here are twenty vital conditions which should 
favorably surround a Carnation, from infancy to old 
age, to obtain from it the highest results. 

Two-thirds of these conditions arise from h^ 
artificial life the plant is compelled to live. 

Another reason of the decadence of l^kinds, is 
the introducdon (often) of really superior i^inds. : 



CARNATION CULTURE. 63 

•This naturally works neglect, hastens disease 
and death ot the older kinds. 

All practical flower growers are well aware that 
varieties of flowering plants that have long been 
perpetuated by cuttings lose much of their original 
vigor and finally fail. 

There seems to be a limit to the life of every 
thing-, from the smallest insect, to the laro^est 
world. 

The finest quality of potatoes cultivated thirty 
years ago are now scarcely remembered. 

The first Carnations that were introduced and 
which were the wonder of the time are now 
unknown and a number of kinds far less aged 
than the first ones introduced, are inervated by time, 
decrepit with age, yet linger on the benches of 
some kind and nursing Florist, while they should be 
in the compost pile, the proper grave for all worth- 
less and senile plants. 

In Carnations there should be frequent renewal 
of native vigor, in the varieties, by the natural pro 
cess of seed unfoldment. 

In the coming future floral occupations will 
naturally divide and individualize. 

Man does all things badly; but a few things 
well, there is profit and ) perfection in specialism. 

1 he Floral business of the future will be divided 
according to the wants, and exigencies of the hour. 

There will exist establishments devoted exclus- 
slvly to the propagation of new Roses, new Geran- 
iums and new Carnations. 



64 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



The variety of climate in our almost ocean 
bound Republic will eventually centralize the grow- 
ing of certain classes of flowers, in certain sections, 
in which better flowers can be more cheaply 
produced. 

Proper soil; required humidity; cheaper fuel; 
brighter sunlight; will be vital factors when prices 
are forced to the lowest limit. 

Rose growing sections, Carnation growing 
sections, will soon begin to stake out their claims on 
the nebulous map of American Floriculture. 





CHAPTER XL 

THE CULTIVATION OF CARNATIONS FOR SPRING AND 
AUTUMN SALES IN POTS. 

T is impossible to obtain a good size Carnation 
plant in the Spring following the rooting of 
the cutting. The rooted cuttings should be 
planted in open ground in the Spring, and 
cultivated through the season. 

In the Fall they can be lifted carefully and put 
in pots according to the size of the plant; varying 
from three to eiofht inches. 

The larger plants, as soon as they are well 
established in the pots, are ready for Autumn sales, 
and if the proper kinds are selected will soon have 
five to fifty buds and bloom. 

The plants that are designed for Spring sale in 
pots, if they are too forward with their flower stems, 
may be pinched back, and kept in a cool house, or 
well protected cold frame through the Winter, and 
then shifted into a larger pot in March, and the 
recuring warmth of Spring, will in three or four 
weeks load them with a profusion of flowers. 

By this process, they will make the most desire - 
able, and saleable pot plant offered by the local 
Florist in the Spring market. 

Those who raise Carnations by the thousands, 
to house for Winter bloom, reserve the weakest 



66 carnatkjn culture. 

plants from the field, head them back, and crowd 
them into three inch pots, and when the Spring 
sales open they make fine five and six inch pot plants. 

Some Florists in the Spring, lift from the 
benches. Carnations that have flowered in heat 
through the Winter, and pot them for the Spring sales. 

These plants will make quite a show of thrift 
for a short time only, but will entirely fail to give 
satisfaction to either the buyer or seller. 

Early made cutdngs can be potted up and 
forced along, and by late Spring will show a flower 
stem or two with several buds and bloom, but I have 
given the only mode to have large and attractive 
pot-plants of Carnations for the retail market in the 
Spring. 

The white-variegated and yellow-variegated 
classes, are mostly late bloomers, and afford fancy- 
full colored flowers, making these classes of Carna- 
nations more saleable in pots than the self colored 
kinds. 

This however is a matter of fancy with the 
purchaser. 

The dwarf compact growing varieties that have 
canes sufficiently stiff to support the flowers and 
buds without the assistance of stakes are preferable. 

Early and free Winter blooming kinds should 
be chosen for Autumn sales, and late blooming 
kinds for the Spring trade. 




CHAPTER XII. 

DISEASES OF CARNATIONS-REMEDIES. INSECTS WHICH 
TROUBLE CARNATIONS-REMEDIES. 

OOT FUNGUS. This trouble is caused by 
a microscopic parasite which feeds upon the 
roots of the Carnation plant. Its presence in 
a bed of Carnations in the open ground, is 
easily datectsd by a paler tint of the plant attacked, 
from which it will spread to surrounding plants. 

A good lens will show the fungus, like cob-webs, 
over the growing rootlets. 

REMEDY. 

It is best to destroy the diseased plants as 
soon as detected, and they should never be trans- 
planted on the benches, they rarely or ever fully 
recover health. 

Watering the plants impregnated with aqua- 
amonia is considered a good remedy. 

If the entire stock o-ets infested with this 
fungus parasite, it is the least expense to change the 
entire stock and obtain a fresh supply from another 
source, and plant them in a different place, out doors, 
and completely renew the soil on the benches. 

DECAY OF CARNATIONS AT THE ROOTS. 

Many Carnation growers complain that their 
Carnations after being transplanted on the benches, 
rot at, or below the surface of the soil, and the 
plants die. 



68 CARNATION CULTURE. 

I have had experience with this trouble and 
think it should scarcely be called a disease; but 
rather a mismanagement of the plant. 

It is caused by the soil on the benches being 
of a spongy nature, as from imperfectly rotted 
manure, this kind of soil will maintain too much 
humidity around the roots of the plant, that prefers 
an opposite condition of firmness and dryness 

This decay attacks plants illy ventillated, illy light- 
ed and planted deeper than they grew in the open 
field, and so far as my observation goes, none others. 

REMEDY. 

If my observations are correct, the remedy 
suggests itself. 

Firmer soil; good drainage; good light; free 
ventillation and proper depth of planting. 

— APHIS. — 

Or green fly is the most common insect pest 
that infests plants. 

The Carnation is not exempt from its attacks. 

They subsist upon the juices of the plant by 
perforating the outer skin and sucking the sap. 

Neglect gives them time to multiply into legions 
and it is hard to destroy them by any means. 

The proper and only way is to reach them 
through their breathing aparatus. 

The food upon which they exist is beyond the 
reach of destroying applications. 

REMEDY. 

Tobacco in any form is quickly fatal to the 
green fly. 



CARNATION CULTURE, 69' 

One pound of Tobacco stems steeped in five 
gallons of water, until the water becomes the color 
of strong coffee. Apply this with a syringe. 

Fumigating by burning slowly dampened 
Tobacco stems is equally as effectual. 

No special quantity need be prescribed as the 
remedy is not injurious to the plants. 

These remedial applications should be applied 
on the first approach of this pest, as a prevention 
rather than a cure. 

RED SPIDER. 

This insect will always appear when conditions 
are favorable ; these are a hot and a dry atmosphere 
continued for some time. 

The conditions under which this insect will 
develope and flourish is as damaging to the Carna- 
tion plant as it is favorable to the insect. Red spid- 
er shows neglect of the plants. 

REMEDY. 

Reduce the temperature and maintain a moist 
atmosphere by spraying the plants frequently, and 
keeping the walks of the house damp. 

Spraying plants and watering them, are two 
different things. 

Carnation plants like much of the former 
and dislike too much of the latter. 

CARNATION TWITTER. 

This lively little insect in not generally known. 

It is found only in certain sections of the country, 
and is most likely to infest plants grown in light sandy 
soil. 



-JO CARNATION CULTURE. 

It Is rarely found in heavy loam, or clayey soil, 
such as is suited to the health and nature of the 
Carnation. 

It is very poisonous in its attacks on all the 
varieties of the Dianthus c'ass of plant?. 

The leaves of the plant when attacked by this 
insect have a curled or frosted appearance, and 
a color, or tint, resembling the depredations of ;ha 
Red Spider. 

REMEDY. — 

I am not familiar with any effective remedy, 
happily its attacks are not general, or continous 
on stocks of Carnations. 

BROWN MOULD. 

The ''Gardeners Chronicle' says this disease has 
been very common in some sections in the last few 
years. 

In bad cases w^hole stocks of Carnations have 
been destroyed. 

The name of the fungus which causes the 
trouble is '' Helminthosportini Enchiulatitm!' 

The appearance of the fungus .as it grows on 
both sides of the leaf, is distinct and may be easily 
recognized. 

The mycelium, or spores of the fungus, the 
threads of which are very thick cross in a radiating 
fashion, inside of the leaf, beneath the epidermis. 

From the inside of the leaf the frunting threads 
burst throuo^h the outside in a series of black con- 
centric circles, like minute fary rings. 

The appearance^ is of one series of small black 
circles, within another. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 7I 

Each circle consists cf fruitincr threads. 

o 
REMEDY. 

As this fungus vegetates between the two mem- 
branes of the leaf, it cannot be reached by any 
sulphuring process without destroying the leaves of 
the plants. 

The only mode of action known, is to carefully 
pick and destroy each affected leaf. 

There is no plant in general cultivation as free 
from disease, injects, or fungoid attacks, as the 
Carnation. 

This condition however is not likely to be 
enduring. 

The Root Fungus and Brown Mould are 
probably the perils this plant will have to face in 
the future. 

At present, however, as Mr. Tailby in his paper 
before the Society of American Florists at Philadel- 
phia properly remarks: 

''There is little fear from Carnation diseases if 
you start widi healthy cuttings and handle the 
plants well." , 




72 



CARNATION CULTURE. 




STRIPED CARNATION, 




CHAPTER XIII. 

CAUSE OF THE CALYX BURSTING. THE IDEAL CARNATION 

OF THE FUTURE. 

^O Carnation that bursts its calyx should, now 
ask the award of merit. Such a thing is not 
known in nature, but the Florist by his 
expertness has run the petals up ixov^five to 
fifty, and the strength of the calyx has not kept 
pace with the multiplication of the petals. 

It is curious to notice the means nature adopts 
to strengthen the calyx which bursts before, or while 
the petals are unfolding. 

At the base of the long tubular calyx, there are 
bracts, or brackets, giving it great support. 

In the non-bursting kinds, nature has increased 
these bracts to six or more and their points run 
much further up the calyx than formerly. 

The calyx never bursts except between these 
supports. 

These bracts are fully developed at an early 
stage of the buds growth, to be in time to provide 
against lesion. 

Carnations staked, so the buds and calyx are bet- 
ter strengthened by light and air do not burst so badly 
as otherwise. 

It is a violence of nature for a flower in its 

unfoldment to work a lesion of its structure. 



74 CARNATION CULTURE. 

Nature abhors an imperfect flower. 

There is no fear but what the future Carnation 
will be perfect in this regard. 

The habits of an ideal Carnation plant is one 
of vigorous, dwarf, or medium size growth, yielding 
its bloom profusely and continuously (not in crops) 
from October until the following July, or August, on 
stems sufficiently stiff and long to support erect the 
flowerets, and giving the petals perfect calyx 
support. 

The flower must be symmetrical, large, fringed 
and fragrant. 

The grower of Strawberry plants frankly tells 
his customers the variety suited by its nature to a 
dry sandy soil; this one to a moist clayey soil; this 
an early berry a medium and this a late berry. 

There is no such system accompanying Carna- 
tions offered for sale. 

Purchasers are entitled to know all the facts. 

They want to know if it comes into bloom, 
early, or late; the difference between late and early 
bloomers is about four month. 

Does it bloom continuously, or in crops? The 
difference between crops is about thirty days. 

Is it a vif^orous, or weak grower? The differ- 
ence between the two kinds being vital to the Florist 
or amateur; then its color, fragrance, &c., are of 
importance. 

To the professional Carnation flower grower it 
is a great question whether it will pay at present 
prices, to house and properly care for late bloomers. 

Early and constant bloomers, have nine 
months of market supply against five months for 
the late bloomers. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 75 

However, this desparagement between the two ^ 
classes is some what compensated for by the late ones 
blooming more profusely after they commence, and 
producing rather finer flowers which should com- 
mand a higher price, and this discrepancy in time of 
blooming can be obviated largely by the time of 
striking cuttings, heading in, &c. 

For a uniform and unbroken market supply, 
the continuo7is bloomers are preferable to the crop 
bloomers, though the latter largely make up the delay 
of a partial interval of a few weeks by a greater 
abundance at one time 

Some kinds of Carnations are less restive 
under root restraint in pots, than others, some will 
bear a higher forcing temperature than others, some 
accomodate themselves to a loose sandy soil better 
than other kinds. 

But as a rule, a rich underdrained clayey soil is 
most congenial to the nature of the plant. 

The Carnation adapts itself to new and varying 
conditions with the readiness of most other plants, 
yet the honest difference of opinion among Florists 
as to the relative value and excellencies of varieties 
is very great. 

It would be hard to get an agreement of any 
five Carnation growers of America, on twenty of 
the best kinds, out of a catalogue list of two 
hundred. 

If knowledge were perfect, on the nature, or 
habits of each Carnation, and the treatment uniform 
in view of the same, the estimates of Florists, in 
different sections of the country would not widely 
differ on their relative merits. 



76 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



The description of a Carnation offered to the 
trade, or to the public, should be experimentally true. 

The following form will admit of variations to 
suit the facts, and tersely explain the habits of the 
plant, and color of the flower. 



^ 



* 



* 



Flowers white, fragrant, and fringed; borne on 
long stems in profusion. 

The plant is a healthy, branching, medium size 
grower; early and continuous bloomer, adapted to 
high temperature, heavy soil and bench culture. 





CHAPTER XIV. 

THE NATURE AND PHYSICAL QUALITIES OF THE 

CARNATION. 

|HE Carnation of the future must be a large 
and perfect flower, it must give perfect 
calyx support to its petals. The flowers 
must be on long stems, stand erect, be 
gratefully fragrant, and beautifully fringed. 

The plant must be of a branching, dwarfish 
habit; a vigorous grower, an early and continuous 
bloomer. 

At the time the seed is fertilized, nature 
impresses upon the unborn germ, all of its future 
various physical characteristics. 

At that moment it is determined whether the 
coming plant is to be a late or, early bloomer; its 
color, its freedom of bloom, its stature, its Winter, or 
Summer blooming nature, &c., &c. 

There are six months difference in the time of 
blooming, between the earliest and latest kinds of 
Carnations. 

This time may be diminished, or increased, by 
heading in, temperature, time of propagation, and 
other treatments. 

All Carnations should be classed as early, 
medium, and late bloomers. 

Carnation plants vary in the productiveness 
of their bloom buds from ten to two hundred. 



78 CARNATION CULTURE. 

So they should be classed as Shy, Average, or 
Profuse bloomers. 

As to color, nearly all Carnation flowers range 
themselves naturally into the White, Yellozu, Pink, 
Crimson, Scarlet, White-variegated, and Yellow- 
variegated classes. 

Some Carnations by their nature are more 
profuse bloomers in Winter under glass, others in 
Summer, out of doors. 

This fact is important and should attach to 
a discription of the variety. 

The comparative hardiness of Carnations vary 
from a few degrees below freezing to absolute 
hardiness. 

This should be kept in view. 

The stature of Carnations vary from one to 
three feet. 

They can be classified as Dwarf, Medium and 
Tall growers. 

Some Carnations bloom continuously, others in 
a succession of crops. 

Some Carnations will bloom well, and remain 
healthy in a higher temperature than the nature of 
others will long admit of. 

Some kinds of Carnations give much better 
satisfaction under the root restraint of pots, than 
others. 

The natural soil for Carnations is a heavy 
loam, a few varieties are found to adapt themselves 
well to a light sandy soil. 

Carnations flowers are grown on long stems, or 
short stems, the latter requires stemming to utilize 
the flower. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 79 

It Is useless to make reference to the kinds 
that burst their calyx, and those which are sickly 
growers, for these should be at once and forever 
eliminated from every list. 

It is the. want of a knowledge of the nature 
and habits of each particular kind of Carnations, that 
causes such a diversity of opinion among Florists as 
to their respective merits. 

It might be expected in a work of this kind, for the 
author to give, in his judgment a list of the best 
kinds of Carnations. 

We have very decided views, as to which are the 
best in a list of more than one hundred varieties we 
grow, in view of our soil, temperature, moisture, 
climate and general management. 

The best Winter bloomers are not the best 
Summer bloomers. 

The most profuse bloomers do not produce the 
largest flowers. 

The most attractive and fancy colored, are the 
shyest bloomers. 

The best for bench culture are not as a rule the 
best for pots. 

Any one kind for the above purposes in one 
locality, is far from being considered the best for 
the same purpose in another locality. 

What is needed is a thorough knowledge of 
the proper culture of the Carnation plant generally, 
and the habits, or peculiar traits of each variety, 
specially. 

Then every grower would be agreed as to 
which were the best in the list of Carnations, for his 
purposes. 



8o CARNATION CULTURE. 

A professional, or amateur grower, might ask 
for the best white Carnation; we ask in reply: for 
hardiness? for Winter blooming? for Summer 
blooming? for the bench? for pots? for the size of 
flower? for a profusion of bloom? for fragrance? for 
beauty of flower? 

We would name a different Carnation for most of 
the above purposes. 

For general use, under our management, our 
preferences are stated in Chapter VI 11. 





CHAPTER XV. 

PROFITS OF CARNATION CULTURE. MEANS TO ATTAIN* 

THE BEST RESULTS. 

|HERE is no plant that produces as many 
flowers, or as good ones, as the Carnation. 
The number on typical plants of floriferous 
varieties often reach two hundred. The 
durability of the Carnation flower is remarkable; 
flowers well matured on the stem, have been kept in 
a cool temperature, in a good condition twenty days. 

Immatured flowers wilt very soon. 

Some varieties of Carnations bear flowers more 
lasting than others; one kind has carried presentable 
flowers on the parent stem for thirty days. 

The best results obtained in raising Carna- 
tion flowers, is by devoting houses to them 
exclusively. 

The most convenient form of a house is i6 feet 
wide, and of any convenient length, heated by hot- 
water. 

The aisles need not be over eighteen inches 
wide, the three benches will then be wide enough 
for conveniently picking the bloom. 

To maintain healthy Carnation plants through 
the entire season, the temperature should be about 
40 degrees at night, and 10 or 15 degrees higher 
through the day. 



82 CARNATION CULTURE. 

The plants will yield more flowers, and better 
ones, through the season, than if kept in a higher 
temperature. 

Tall growing Carnations should be staked, and 
the flowers stems loosely tied, air and light have a 
better chance around the plant, and to an extent 
prevents the calyx from bursting. 

The commercial demand for white Carnations 
is greatly in excess of colored ones. White is the 
ground work of floral designs. 

Growing Carnations for cut-flowers, for sale in 
pots, and plants for stock, constitute three branches 
of Carnation culture. 

The growers of cut-flowers should confine 
themselves to half a dozen of the best varieties of 
each class, selected with reference to their adapta- 
bility to the locality where the grower lives; early 
and late blooming qualities of the plants, with 
reference to succession of bloom. 

Some varieties esteemed the best in one 
locality, are regarded worthless in other sections. 

Some kinds of each of the seven classes, are 
better adapted to pots than other kinds. 

The grower after being settled in his purposes, 
should select a short list adapted to his designs. 

It is different with the grower who desires* to 
supply the market with stock. 

The habits of this plant are so varied, the tastes 
and fashions of the people so diverse, to meet which, 
he must propagate and carry a very large list. 

There are about two hundred named Carnations 
in Europe and America, possessing different degrees 
of merit. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 83 

Ten selected from each class would embrac i 
the really superior kinds. 

Many would reduce diis estimate to one-half. 

But it must be remembered, the list is 
augmented, by the facts that some are the best in 
one section and not so good in another, some are 
Winter bloomers, others are better Summer 
bloomers, some for pots, others for ])enches, some 
are late, and others early bloomers, some are dwarf, 
others tall growers; some superior for fragrance, and 
the beauty of the flower varies as does the peoples 
fancy. 

The profit of growing Carnations for cut- 
flowers depends on the varieties, management of the 
plants, price of fuel, markets to be reached, &c. 

It is safe to estimate that a Carnation plant 
through the season will average twenty flowers, and 
ten square feet of glass will cover one hundred 
plants including aisles, and the price of flowers 
through the season will average ten dollars per 
thousand. 

Fancy varieties in some markets command 
Thirty dollars per thousand. 

The Standard forcing kinds can be marketed 
at Twenty-five dollars per thousand during the 
Holidays. 

By refering to ''Practical Floriculture',' pub- 
lished in 1868, I see the colored sorts sold in New 
York market for Twenty dollars per thousand, and 
the white at Forty dollars per thousand. 

After August i, prices run down to Five dollars 
per thousand, and so continue till November. 



84 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



Some growers ship their blooms to commission 
houses, and run the range of the market price 
through the season, others m.ake a season contract, 
the price to run, uniform between the periods agreed 
upon. 

The importance of market reports of cut- 
flowers, has been met by the ''American Florist^' 
a semi-monthly paper published in Chicago and 
New York. 

By this publication, growers can see the ruling 
prices for their products in Boston, New York,, 
Philadelphia, Chicago, and other places twice a 
month. 





CHAPTER XVI. 

CARNATION FLOWERS THE YEAR ROUND MONTHLY 

AND REMONENT CARNATION. 

^ARLY blooming varieties of Carnations will 
flower well in August, out of doors. Carna- 
tion plants under glass need not be aban- 
doned until the -latter part of July, if the 
houses are well shaded. 

There is here a period of two months in which 
Carnation flowers are not abundant. 

They fortunately are not in great demand 
during this time. 

To have out door flowers in profusion at this 
time, care must be taken to strike the plants early in 
the season, October or November. 

Plants from the field wintered in a cold frame 
will bloom three weeks sooner than cuttinors. 

o 

A bed of seedlings started in the Fall, from a 
good strain of seed will produce a large percentage 
of double flowers and help fill this gap. 

The circuit of the whole year will soon be 
filled with a list of Carnations whose inker e^it nature, 
it is, to begin unfolding their petals in every 
month of the year. 

The list is complete now between August 
blooming Snowden, and April blooming Quaker 
City. 



86 CARNATION CULTURE. 

With the appliances of temperature; heading 
back; shading; selecting the proper varieties, and 
especially the time of propagating; we can now 
obtain with an ease that attaches to no other flower, 
Carnation bloom in profusion every month of the 
year. 

It must be remembered that when late and 
early blooming varieties are refered too in this work, 
that they are so according to the accepted time the 
stock is now propagated. 

Hinzies white by this rule is a late blooming 
Carnation. 

If this variety is propagated in October, potted 
up as it grows, keeping during February and March 
only in a slow growing condition, planted in the 
open ground in April, and not headed back, it can 
be housed the first of October with a profusion of 
buds and bloom, from which immediate pickings 
can be made. 

This is practical knowledge. 

The principle to be observed is the same as in 
many other plants, viz: 

A definite length of time must intervene 
between the severance of cutting, and the time the 
plant can attempt to reproduce itself, by flowers and 
seeds. 

This principle applied to other varieties of 
Carnations would doubtless be as successful in 
fowarding, or retarding bloom as we know it is with 
Hinzies white, the Carnation /^r ^.r^^//^;//. 

Formerly, much more than now, a distinction 
was made between the monthly^ and remonent 
varieties of Carnations. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 8/ 

This distinction was very apparent, and neces- 
sary years ago. 

By hybridizing, and an extensive cross fertilizing 
this distinction is gradually disappearing. 

The races are being unified. 
There are however some well marked types of 
the above classes still in existence. 

''Monthly' Carnations as they were formerly 
called, are those that bloom early and continuously, 
with slight, or partial intervals in the production of 
their flowers, 

'' Remontanf Carnations, (occasionally called 
Tree Carnations,) are those that have their 
season of blooming, generally late. 

Types of the first class might be Pres. De 
Graw, Snovvden, Grace Wilder, &c. 

Types of the second class might be Quaker City, 
Field of Gold, Eureka, &c. 

If these two classes are sufficiently dissimilar 
their progeny might scientifically be called a Hybrid, 
otherwise it would be a Cross. 

Peter Henderson, Butter Cup, Century, &c., 
are the result of a cross fertilization of those two 
races. 

The nature of the parents .is plainly carried into 
the nature of the progeny, in an admixture more or 
less complete. 

The offspring of both parents are later 
bloomers, while one parent is an earlier bloomer 
than the other is sometimes. 

There is a marked effort at a succession of 
crops with partial and brief intervals. 



88 CARNATION CULTURE. 

The children of these parents are vigorous 
growers, bearing fine large flowers, apparently 
healthy and long lived. 

If this is a fact it would point to them being the 
result of a cross, rather than that of them being 
hybrids. 

This possibly explains the language now used 
in discribing Carnations, viz: 

Early and late blooming crops, or continuous 
bloomers, &c., &c., which is but another way of 
refering to the parents, or the parents characteristics 
in the plant described. 



.r%£2<S^@9^an^ 





CHAPTER XVII. 

ARTIFICIAL AND SELF FECUNDATION OF CARNATION 

SEED. 

ARNATIONS produce, or perfect compara- 
tively few seed. As a rule all double flow- 
ers are so at the expense of their powers to 
multiply by the seed process. The absence 

of flower feeding insects in green-houses is a great 

cause of immature seeds in Carnations. 

The close contact of the calyx with the seed 
vessel and the tenacious adherence of the petals 
causes many seeds to rot from too much moisture. 

A seed vessel with its seed fully fertilized and 
matured, will contain about twenty-five black, or 
brownish seed. 

The time to gather the seed, is when they are 
found matured. 

This may be known by a brownish appearance 
of the seed vessel. 

Seed from a good strain, is worth in the 
market, |i.oo per hundred seeds. 

The first show of merit in a cross, or hybrid, 
is not often permanent. 

It may advance, or recede twenty per cent 
before it finds the level of its true existence. 

As a rule, I think, they favorably develope rath- 
er than retrograde. Genial and generous culture, 
is the second agency for all large and double flowers. 



90 CARNATION CULTURE. 

In the absence of these potential influences, they 
rapidly deteriorate and don the characteristics of the 
primative type. 

Seed sown as soon as it is gathered germinates 
much sooner than when it is kept long in a dry 
state. 

Chas. A. Starr's, (a successful grower of seed- 
ling Carnations,) mode, is to plant the seed in March, 
or April in pots, or flats, keeping them moderately 
warm and moist. 

When the second leaf is formed orlve them 
plenty of air. 

When they are large enough to handle, they 
are transplanted into pots, and in time, set out in the 
open ground and treated the same as Carnations 
from cuttings. 

Mr E. Lonsdale in the 19th. No. of the 
America^i Florist says: 

"Experiments with seedling Carnations make a 
very pleasant pastime, with a possibility of fortune 
and fame. Few plants are more attractive to 
the enthusiast, the operations being not only easy, 
but soon realized on. Those who do not care to be 
bothered with the details of artificial fecundation 
should select the best and strongest plants of their 
favorite varieties and bed out when little attention 
would be needed. Let them be varieties which 
ilower at the same time, either from, habit or by 
pinching the shoots back, that those which it is 
desired to cross be in bloom at once, and leave the 
rest to the insects and the wind. This is asserted by 
some authorities to be the best way to proceed with 



C4.RNATION CULTURE. 9 I 

a view to improvement, but if we have an ideal to 
produce, we must proceed under conditions which 
we can control. 

This is best done in a greenhouse, and the time 
best suited is from late summer to early spring. 
After making up your mind what combination of 
qualities you desire to produce, cast about for the 
component parts. For constitution, select a free 
flowering, healthy sort, and make it the seed parent; 
for color and general contour, one that possesses 
the desired characteristics and will furnish the 
necessary amount of pollen. Remove the petals 
from the flower which is to bear the seed pod, and 
carefully cut away the calyx, as it will retain moisture 
and early decay will result. As soon as the seed is 
ripe, which may be determined by the seed-case 
assuming a brownish tint, carefully collect and sow 
at once. If the seed is not covered too deeply it will 
show signs of growth in from four to six days. The 
after treatment of the seedlings will suggest itself to 
all practical growers." 

The Carnation bears a perfect flower of stamens 
pistil and fertilizing pollen. 

When a Carnation fertilizes itself with its own 
pollen, or with pollen brought to it by insects, it is 
said to be self -fertilized in contradistinction to 
artificial-fertilization, which is done by the removal 
of the anthers, and the application of foreign pollen 
to the stigma by human agency. 

Mr. Starr obtained Buttercup, Duke of Orange, 
Lady Chatdn, Venus and Field of Gold, excellent 
varieties, from one batch of seed, a mixture of Astoria, 
La Puratie and Edwardsii. 



92 CARNATION CULTURE. 

One of the most noted growers of new varieties 
of Carnations in America, to obtain unquestioned 
purity and vigor of the parent type, has imported 
from Europe a stock of D. Caryophyllus. 

With this some of the remote varieties will be 
bred, and beyond doubt with grand results. 

Seedlings stand the Winter well when sown in 
the Fall. 

With a little protection they will flower early 
the following Spring. 

A*majority of the seedlings grown, will not be 
worth saving, some will be single, semi double, and 
irregular flowering. 

They will all be interesting to the vegetable 
physiologist who studies the play of vitalizing forces 
which works the varieties of kinds. 

In a former chapter some of the natural laws 
governing crossing and hybridizing, were refered to. 

In keeping with these laws, it will be noticed, 
the most promising varieties of Carnations, of 
recent introduction, by their dwarf habits, bushy 
growth, and comparative hardiness, have been 
bred back toward one of the original types. 

It is to Carnations with this kind of a pedigree 
that growers must look in the future for their most 
profitable kinds. 

The remote hybrids will doubtless continue to 
posess distinguishing, if not abnormal traits of color, 
size of buds, and require as they do now. a c^sarlan 
operation to be delivered of their petals. 



CARNATION CULTURE, 



93 




CARNATION WITH 
EDGES.* 



SERRATED 



*In a fringed Carnation the 'jd.^ros of the petala are cut deeper and 
are more irregular. 




. CHAPTER XVIII. 

COLORS. CLASSIFICATION OF ALL CARNATIONS BASED 

OX COLORS. 

N chromatics there is a wide and inviting field 
for arrangement and systemization. It is for the 
future to adopt a rational and uniform nom- 
enclature of colors. Chemistry has a splendid 
system. 

Music that lends its entrancing charms to 
the ear has one; while colors that offers equal 
pleasures to the eye has comparatively none. 

Aside from the primary colors, and a few well 
understood shades all is chaos. 

The only mode known, or adopted to convey 
intelligence of a shade is by comparing it to some 
existing substance, that occurs at the instant, to the 
mind, that bears that shade. 

If the person addressed, is familiar with the 
shade of the substance refered to, it gives him a 
good conception of the shade of color intended to be 
conveyed by the comparison. 

If he has never seen the thing, or substance, It 
conveys no idea at all. 

The seven prismatic colors, violet, Indigo 
blue, green, yellow, orange and red, are resolvable 
into three, yellow, red and blue. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 9§ 

• ' All Other colors but these three, are compound 
colors, arlsinof from a mixture of two or more of the 
|)rismatic colors. 

Black is the negation of all color. White is a 
compound of all the primary colors in certain exact 
proportions and purity. 

By a critical examination of Carnation flowers 
under a good microscope, it seems that red, zvhite 
and yellow are the grounds upon which all other 
shades of colors are painted. 

The range of the red class is from maroon to 
the lightest blush of red. 

For popular convenience this range of colors is 
subdivided into a darker and a lighter class called 
crimsofi and* scarlet classes. 

The yellow and the ground color of the yellow- 
variegated classes range from deep orange to light 
lemon shades. 

The white class from a tinge of cream or pink 
to an absolute purity of the color. 

The pink class is one for popular convenience, 
and ranges from cherry-pink to the lightest blush, 
from American Wonder to the flesh tint of Mrs. Joliff 

Their is a small but increasinof list of Carnations 
that have distinctive shades known as Rose Lake, or 
Magenta. 

The Century is suflused with this shade, Kaizer 
William has this color with a violet tinge and 
especially it is well marked in Fleta Fay Foster. 

To avoid too many classes this class is listed 
with the crimson as properly belonging to the dark 
shades. 



96 CARNATION CULTURE. 

The old and almost obsolete division of Carna- 
tion into *'self colored," ''Flakes" and "Bizzares" 
should give place to the more rational groupings of 
red, white and yellow as christian names with sur- 
names expressive of the shade, pencilings, spots and 
flakes of the particular variety. 

That these are the statural divisions of Carna- 
tions is evidenced by the different qualities attaching 
to each class in the way of hardening their floresence 
and vigor of growth. 

A shaded Carnation is one in which two or' 
more colors run into each other by insensible 
gradations. 

A flaked Carnation is one in which irregular 
shaped colorings are impressed upon the petals 
always running from the base toward its margin. 

A penciled Carnation is one in which, fine, 
straight, narrow colored lines of different length run 
parallel with the axes of the petal. Oblong dots or 
spots occur in some varieties. 

A Carnation may be flaked, penciled, dotted 
and shaded, or it may be either. 

The variegated kinds range themselves under 
the two natural classes as the preponderance of the 
ground color might indicate. 

Thus, Chester Pride is white with carmine 
pencilings. 

Buttercup is yellow, with vermillion pencilings. 

Sunrise is yellow, flaked with bright red. 

The pink class is a sub-division of the red class, 
but to meet popular requirements it is made a 
separate class. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 97 

The seven classes consist ot 

White, 

Scarlet, 

Crimson, 

Pink, 

Yellow, 

Yellow-variegated, 

White-variegated, 

It requires some forcing to get a few varieties 
into any of these classes, but nineteen-twentieths 
of all pass there naturally. 

No Carnation of a blue color has yet been 
produced. 

Natural laws may bar this result. Miranda is a 
rich plumb color. 

This color is a mixture of carmine and blue. 

Much latitude must be allowed in the descrip- 
tion of the colors of flowers. 

• The shadings of a flower on the same plant 
varies in different ages of its existence, and under 
different management. 

The human eye varies in its impressibility to 
colors from acuteness, to color blindness. 

Two persons with equally susceptible eyes to 
colors, will rarely describe a compound color the 
same way. 




CHAPTER XIX. 

THE VARIETIES OF CARNATIONS GROWN FOR THE 
MARKETS OF THE UNITED STATES. 

give in the following chapter, the kinds of 
Carnations grown for cut-flowers, and flower- 
plants for the principal markets of this country. 
Also the prices now ruling for sho7't and long 
stem flowers, to growers. 

Also the proportion of white flowers required 
by the markets relative to all other colors. 

It will be nodced the flowers of the Carnadon 
of the future must be borne on long stems. 

Where two correspondents, from the same 
point mendons the same kind, the duplicadon of 
names are omitted. 

One-half of all the Carnation flowers sold in the 
United States are white. 

The mode of cutdng with long stems is wonder- 
fully increasing the demand for other colors. 

The facilides for stemming a flower are not at 
hand, or is a knowledge of the mode possessed, by 
the average purchaser. 

So a flower without a stem cannot be readily 
utilized. 

Flower merchants deal in a perishable commod- 
ity, and are entided, (if they buy out-right) to a 
broad margin of profit. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 99 

New York quotations of same date, generally 
say: "Carnations, (to growers) $i.oo to $200, per 
hundred," and retail at, from 50 to 75 cents per doz. 

The question might arise whether there is a 
proper division of profits between the grower and 
merchant. 

As to houses that deal in flowers on Commis- 
sion, I know of no law to protect the consignor but 
the honesty of the consignee. 

The statements of correspondents (only a portion 
of which are given) show the varieties of Carnations 
chiefly grown in this country. 

This establishes the kinds most in demand, and 
the kinds most profitable to grow only of the 
profusely introduced sorts. 

To the scarcer varieties that are rapidly coming 
into popular favor this system of inquiry ' works 
great injustice. 

Many Carnation growers say in their letters: 
"We will grow extensively as soon as we can obtain 
the quantity of stock." 

The Century, Grace Fardon, Dawn, Rosalind, 
American Wonder, Scarlet Gem, Robert Craig, 
Andalousie, Seawan, Sunrise, Buttercup, Field of 
Gold, Alegatiere, Quaker City, Mille Carle, John 
McCuUough, Pres. Garfield, Jeannette, La Puritie, 
(white) Anna Webb, Chas. Henderson, Grace 
Wilder, Laura, Mrs. Joliff, Chester Pride, Rose Hill, 
Victor, Mrs. Garfield, Mrs. E. Hippard, Mrs. A. 
Rolker, Joseph Perkins, J. J. Harrison, ect., ect. 

Another lesson taught by this system of 
inquiry, which extended from the Atlantic to the 



lOO CARNATION CULTURE. 

Pacific, and fi^om Maine to Lousiana, is the surpris- 
irie narrow belt in the United States in which Carna- 
tions can be o^rown with the oreatest success. 

o o 

It is evident the Carnation orrowinof belt of 
America and Europe lies between degrees 38 and 45, 
north latitude. 

Very few, if any of the genera of the order of 
caryophyllacese are found south of the temperate 
zone. 

The home of the whole order seems to be in 
the North. 

Lychnis, Stellaria, Cerastium Vulgatum, &c., 
are found in Canada, Siberia and Labrador. 

The Botanical division of the life of the roots of 
plants into annuals, biennials and perennials, is 
greatly modified by cultivation and climate. 

Wheat is an annual if sowed in the Spring, it 
becomes a biennial if sown in the Fall. 

The Narsturtion is a perennial shrub in South 
America, in the North it is a distinctive annual. 

The tendency of all perennial plants of the 

tropics, when brought into a zone sharply marked by 

the seasons, or well defined periods of rest and 

activity of vegetable life, is to assume biennial, or 

'annual habits. 

The Carnation is a well defined biennial. 

It is its nature for its roots to live two years, or 
through one period of rest, or dormant existence, to 
.perfect its seed, and for its roots to die the second 
season. 

This plant, though a native of the temipcratc 
.zone, may have this nature greatly modified in iis 
GVvii natural clime. 



CARNATION CULTURE, lOl 

Artificial manipulation and green-house 
influences compels it to assume both annual and 
perennial habits. 

Many members of this order of plants, arQ 
perennials, even the parents of the Carnation race are 
perennials. 

The names of the originators of the improved 
varieties of Carnations, arc affixed, in the catalogue. 

This determines the locality in which sorts have 
had their orioin. 

It is reasonable to suppose that a new kind of 
improved beauty of flower, or habit of a plant would 
only be obtained in a latitude, soil, and under 
circumstances most cono^enial to the nature of this 
plant. 

The new race of perpetual Carnations, Jene 
Sisley says, originated in Lyons, France. 

The most successful growers of Carnations, as 
well as the originators of new and improved kinds, 
must ever be confined to a very narrow strip of the 
earths surface. 

Soil, light, humidity and isothermal agencies 
within this limited belt will also be great factors of 
influences y"^r, or against this plant. 

This is strongly illustrated by \V. C. Wilsons 
letter, of Long Island, N. Y. 

Mr. Wilson has long been a practical and suc- 
cessful florist. 

After enumerating a long list of Carnations 
grown for the New York market, he says: 



I02 CARNATION CULTURE. 

"There are many other kinds grown. Some 
do well in one spot, while others do not. 

Our orrowers have to look for those sorts that 
do the best in their particular locality." 

This condition of things must be referable 
chiefly to the soil. 

No other influence could work this result in a 
section as limited as New York City and its suburbs. 

It also may refer to a fact that some sorts of 
Carnations by their nature are adapted to certain 
sorts of soil. 

The soil of ^-ong Island and vicinity sections, 
doubtless largely predominates in silex, and other 
loose oc(2an formed materials, and cannot geologic- 
ally, be generally a good Carnation growing section. 

There are two localities not more than twenty 
miles apart, at one point Carnations are raised with 
great success, at the other point their culture is 
almost a failure. 

At the the successful place the soil is a cold 
argillaceous nature at the other it is a loose warm 
sandy loam. 

The firm micaceous soil of eastern Pennyslva- 
nia has proven to be well adapted to growing Carna- 
tions successfully. 

Carnations do extremely well through Northern 
Ohio, where the excessive heat of Summer is modi- 
fied by the chain of Lakes on the nordi, in localities 
where the soil predominates in enriched alumina. 

Does the fine web-like roots of the Carnation 
feed on the elements found in a clayey soil? or does 



CARNATION CULTURE. IO3 

the plant require the compactness this kind of soil 
gives around its roots? or is the cold nature of this 
soil congenial to its nature? 

Possibly it is all three of those factors combined 
that works the general good result. 

These arc merely the first dottings on the map 
which will eventually clearly outline the Carnation 
growing sections of America. 




104 



CAKNATTOIN' CULTURE. 




TYPE OF A CRIMSON CARNATION. 



CHAPTER XX. 



Chapter XX, in the 1st and 2d editions, con- 
tained the correspondence from growers, showing 
the varieties of carnations cultivated in the 
United States in 1885. Its only value now would 
be to show the mutation in cultivated varieties 
that is constantly going on. 



SOLID BEDS. 

I append an abridged article from the pen of 
A. M. Herr, Pa. , who is the pioneer representa- 
tive of the Solid Bed system for carnations. 

' 'I have a plant of houses, that in their results 
has given great satisfaction. It consists of eight 
houses, each 9x100 feet on the ridge and furrow 
plan, the gutter plates rest upon the posts, but 
there, is no partition between the houses, and the 
beds are on a level with the ground floor, and are 
of the natural soil without any labor spent on 
them except to manure them for planting. The 
houses run north and south, and the carnations 
are planted in beds three feet wide, and are 
heated with pipes supported by the posts on 
which rests the gutter plates, the span being so 
short no posts are needed to support the roof. 
Solid Beds are preferable for many varieties of 
carnations on the ground of economy, and the 
season's results are better in both flowers and 



I06 CAENATION CULTURE. 

jjlants. The drainage of these beds, however, 
must be very thorough. Some kinds of carna- 
tions are better adapted to this mode of cul- 
ture than other kinds. Carnations disposed to 
burst their calyxes will do so more on solid beds 
than on raised benches, and carnations with the 
habit of producing side buds will turn out more 
short stem flowers on solid beds. 

The varieties I find best adapted to solid bfeds 
are Grace Wilder, Silver Spray, Henzie, Lizzie 
McGowen, Fred Dorner, Anna Webb, Mrs. Man- 
gold, J. F. Freeman^ Portia Hector, Day Break 
and Christmas, and there are doubtless others I 
have not tried that would do equally well. J. J. 
Harrison, L. L. Lamborn, E. G. Hill, Geneva 
Buttercup and Chester Pride do better on raised 
benches. " 

C. W. Ward, N. Y. "We like solid beds for 
some varieties, and raised benches for other kinds, 
Henzie, Portia, Chester Pride and Garfield do well 
with us in solid beds. '^ 

H. E. Chitty, N. J. ' 'I tried solid beds in three 
houses in 1886, the plants grew with extraordi- 
nary vigor, but produced but few flowers until 
after the holidays when they did some better. 
I have no desire to test solid beds again. " 

Wm. Nicholson, Mass. * 'I grow over half of my 
stock in solid beds; benches do better in the 
winter, solid beds better in the spring and sum- 
mer months; by negligence in under watering, 
benches suffer the most, while neglect in over 
watering beds suffer the most. All things consid- 
ering I see but little difference." 



CARNATION CULTURE. I07 

R. T. Lombard, Mass. "I grow carnations in 
solid beds and on raised benches, and I wonld 
discard raised benches entirely if my houses were 
constructed so I could. I get the best results 
from solid beds. " 

J. L. Dillon, Pa. ''We have used solid beds for 
carnations for years, planting the smaller groAv- 
ihg varieties, as Lamborn, Wilder and Swayne, 
on raised benches, and find that Henzie, Ed- 
wardsii, Mrs. F. Mangold and all strong growing- 
kinds succeed well on solid beds. As to produc- 
tiveness of bloom we have not seen any difference. 
Solid beds or benches is all a matter of conven- 
ience and expense."" 

Alex McBride, N. Y. "I think solid beds are 
better than raised benches for carnations, pro- 
vided they are well drained." 

Joseph Renard, Pa. ' 'My experience with solid 
beds and raised benches for carnations is this: 
during November, December, January, Feburary 
and March, raised benches are better in every 
particular; but before and after these months, 
solid beds are preferable; they retain moisture, 
do away with a great deal of work, and are more 
beneficial to the plants." 

Many other experiences and opinions have 
been obtained from growers on this question, 
only the most pertinent have been introduced. 
Messrs Renard and Nicholson sum up the whole 
question, omitting giving prominence to the 
point; the grower's crop of bloom is not as com- 
pletely under his control in solid beds, as it is in 
raised benches. The crop cannot be forced so 



I08 CARNATION CULTURE. 

well, if it was desired to have it early, or at stated 
intervals. 



Supt. Porter, of the Census Bureau, says; 
there are in the United States 4691 floral estab- 
lishments embracing 38,823.347 feet of glass, 
equaling 891 acres of land. They give employ- 
ment to 16847 males and 1958 females and pay 
annually $1, 160. 152 for fuel. The value of their 
yearly output of plants amounts to 112,036.477, 
and the value of cut flowers they sell is $14,- 
175.328. 



There was but one commercial florist in Amer- 
ica in 1800,-3 more by 1820,— 8 more by 1830, — 
25 more by 1840, — 45 more by 1850, — 96 more by 
1860, and in 1890 a total of 4690. 



Within the carnation growing sections of 
America the excessive hot weather of July and 
August is very pred judicial to the growth of car- 
nations. A northern inclination of the carnation 
field would materially modify the bad effects of 
the heat. 



Dear Sir: — "We would be pleased to know 
why carnation L. L. Lamborn will not open its 
buds with us. They but half open, then hang 
together and rot. " Webb Bros. , Corfu, N. Y. 

All varieties are incipient species and have dis- 
tinctive habits of their own. The flower of the 
carnation in question is up to the maximum size, 
and of unequaled purity of color from the 
moment its petals unfold until they die. 



CARNATION CULTURE. I 09 

This carnation has defective strength of stem, 
and is on the annual side of the cultivated 
groupe of Biennial Carnations, as is Snowden, one 
of its parents. It should never be propagated 
until March or April for winter blooming. If it 
is propagated early, the plant being small, and are 
early bloomer, it becomes exhausted; so that by 
the time the short dark days of late winter set 
in, the flowers will not unfold to the feeble stim- 
ulus of the heat and light then offered. 

No variety has the terminal ends of the petals 
overlapping themselves as this has. From spray- 
ing, or condensation of greenhouse moisture, the 
outside petals decay and lock the inside ones in 
their adhesive embrace. 

Wm. Swayne, the originator of this variety, 
says that he gets the best results from cuttings 
taken in March. 

The versatilities of this and all other varieties, 
I think, is fully explained by general principles 
in Chapter XXVIII. 



Mr. E. G. Hill, of Ind. , from personal observa- 
tions in a recent tour of Europe, and the British 
Isles, says, "Go where you will, cloves, pinks 
and carnations are seen in fragrant profusion on 
every hand. The finer strains are classified as 
Bizarres,, Flakes, Fancies and Selfs; and sections 
or types as the Malmaison, Marguirete etc. 

The continuance and multiplication of choice va- 
rieties is universally done by layering the shoots 
in pots. The largest flowers produced by any va- 
riety of the Dianthus family is the by Malmai- 



I 1 O CARNATION CULTURE. 

son type. Mr. Hill heard of flowers that reached 
six inches in diameter. 

A March number of the "Florist's Exchange" 
gave an electro type impression of a European 
variety measuring 4f inches in diameter. An es- 
teemed variety at Erfurt is the Germania; but 
neither it or the Marguirete class has been a 
great success in this country. 

The method of culture of these border varieties 
in Europe is to start the seed under glass, and 
when two inches high transplant at proper dis- 
tances apart and give careful cultivation, where 
they bloom the second season. 

These classes of the Dianthus family of plants 
are carefully crossed by hand fertilization, and 
when cultivated with the greatest care, marvelous 
progress has been made in their development in 
the old country during the last few years. 

The same disability seems to attend the impor- 
tation of these classes into this country that is at- 
tached to the perpetual carnations. 

America must raise her own Bizarres, Flakes and 
Fancies, and there is certainly an inviting and 
profitable field for effort in this direction. 

The last few years have seen but few originat- 
ions, or importations, of these types of carnations 
in America, and in those, the improvements have 
not been signally marked. 

Eastern Queen, Snow Flake, Morning Cloak, 
Hermine, Hispancus, Varabilis, Abottsford, 
Crimson Bell, La Favourite, Pheasant's Eye, and a 
few others are all we can add to the list found on 
page 




CHAPTER XXI. 

HARDY SCOTCH PINKS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM 

AND CARNATIONS. 

5OST Carnations are haidy above zero* 
Most pinks are hardy at any ordinary de- 
gree below zero. Pinks have a more 
dwarfed growth than Carnations. 

They rarely attain a height greater than one 
foot, and grow in large tufts from a foot to eighteen 
inches in diameter. 

The foliage of Pinks is more profuse, the leaves 
narrower, and more grasslike than is found in Car- 
nations. 

Their ordinary time of blooming is different 
from the Carnation. June is their usual flowering 
time. 

The beautiful lacings, shadings and bandings 
of Pinks are different from the markings seen in 
Carnations. 

The markings in Pinks are usually transverse 
on the petals, while in Carnations they are parallel 
with the axis of the petals. 

The petals of Pinks are deeper and more 
generally fringed, and the fragrance of the flower is 
more powerful than is found in Carnations. 

These and other general differences between 
these two classes of plants are far from being in- 
variable. 



112 CARNATION CULTURE. 

The mentioned characteristics of the two classes 
shade down to nothing on the confines of a close 
relationship. 

They run into each other by insensible 
gradations. 

Pinks are the parents of Carnations. Some 
valuable Carnations recently introduced have many 
of the traits of their parents, as Quaker City, etc. 

The Carnation that may be introduced in the 
future, and the ones that will come to stay, will be 
those that contain most of the pure ^ rich, distinctive 
blood of their parents. 

Nature abhors a hybrid a*= it does a vacuum, 
and decrees against them diseases and extinction. 

Nature's most perfect mechanism is a flower, 
and she revolts at an imperfect one. 

A Carnation that has to rupture the calyx to 
unfold its petals is a monstrosity. 

Good taste will soon consign the unnatural 
product to the compost pile. 

The dwarf habits, profusion of bloom, on short 
stems, and the entirely hardy nature of pinks, make 
them valuable for summer boquets, for the green- 
house, window garden, and especially for cemetery 
decoration. 

In some sections they are used and esteemed, 
as a border for a bed, containing other plants. 

The attention of Florists, and lovers of flowers, 
has been indifferently directed to Pinks. 

The new and vastly improved kinds now being 
introduced, will likely make this different in the near 
future. 



GARNAiTIOX. CU LTl] RE. I I 5 

It is now a question, if some members of the 
Pink family will not compare favorably, with some of 
their more aristocratic Carnation cousins for forcing 
purposes. 

Pinks can be propaorated by cuttings, layers, or 
division of the clumps of roots. 

It should be by cuttings, if they are designed 
for pots, or sale. 

The clumps should be divided and re-set every 
two years. 

There is no difference in ihe treatment of the 
cuttino^s from that recommended for Carnations. 

D. Barbatus, (Syn. Sweet William &c.) 

D. Plumiriu^, (Syn. Garden Pink. Florists 
Pink. Bunch Pink, Cushion Pink, Phesant-eye Pink, 
D. Hortensius.) 

D. Chinesius, (Syn. China Pink) D. Diadcma- 
tus. D. Lancinatus and D. Headewigii, are sports of 
this variety. This sort sports to such an extent that 
in a laro^c bed of seedlinofs it is hard to find two 
alike. 

D. Caryophyllus, (Syn. Carnation. Clove Pink, 
Clove Gilly Flower.) This variety is belived to be 
pxrent of the Tree, or ever bloomiig Carnation. 
These kind are easily propagated by seed. The better 
kinds must be perpetuated by cuttings or division of 
the roots. 

The terms Hardy Pinks, Sweet May Pinks, 
Scotch Pinks, F^icotees, Hybrid Perpetual Pinks, are 
applied indiscriminately to the improved progeny of 
the above kinds, not including the Carnation proper. 



114 CARNATION CULTURE. 

These have distinctive differences, which are 
particularized in Chapter V. and are the Eden 
parents of all our Pinks, as well as Carnations. 

Our list embraces the kinds having the best 
habits, and the widest rancre of colors. 

Mr. Chas. T. Starr, who has given much atten- 
tion to this class of plants, writes me as follows : 

"Scotch Pinks flower like perpetual Roses, but 
one real crop a year, but stand out well in this lati- 
tude (the Alba Fimbriata, or White F'ringe,) without 
any protection. 

The others are better with a slight covering of 
brush and leaves. 

Some varieties, such as Esther, Brunette, Juliet, 
and Alfred Harrington bloom in the late summer, 
or fall. 

Commencing with small plants, set out in April, 
a foot apart each way, giving ordinary garden 
culture same as beets, or onions, kept well hoed and 
soil mellow. 

They soon form large clumps, or stools six 
inches or more In diameter by the tirst of November 
following. 

I leave them out in the open ground to this date, 
or until the ground is slightly frozen, as 1 find I can 
do but little propagating (to have healthy plants) 
without this ireezing, before taking off the cuttings. 

I then remove them and set close together in a 
cold frame, or a bed on the ground In a southern 
exposure, covered by a frame of 6x3 foot giass; 
here they remain until January, at wlrich time 1 cut 
up what 1 want for propagation, putting them in tl'e 
cutting bench the same as Carnations; grow their, in 



CA:^: NATION CULTURE. II5 

two and a half inch pots all summer, ^nd in October 
lollowing-, put them out in cold frames, or keep 
dormant for mailing the follovvino^ spring; such 
plants will bloom that spring- and can be mailed any 
distance with perfect safety. 

For amateur flowering, grow them into clumps 
as before stated, take them up in October, 
plant into beds where wanted to bloom, say eight 
inches apart, set a cold-frame over them, or protect 
with brush and litter, or ever-green boughs, which 
should be removed early in the spring. 

They will repay you in May and June with a 
mass of clove scented beautiful blooms, such as can 
not be obtained on any other flowering plant. 

The nev/ variety ''Snow,'' is pure white and 
as large and double as any Carnation, and bloomed 
very profusely for me last spring, florits 2]/^ inches 
in diameter. It is a great adciidon to the white 
flowering variety, though it bursts badl}'. 

Lord Lyons is the hnest red or dark one, and 
Pumila next. 

Laura Wilmore, Alfred Harrington and Brunette, 
are the best, of the variegated, or dark centered 
varieties. 

They are all worthy of a place in every flower 
garden, being so hardy; and would be much more 
generally grown, especially at the north, if their 
treatment was more generally understood. 

They can be winter flowered the same as Sweet 
Violets, but will do but little good in a warm dry 
atmosphere such as is too often found in green-houses 
and living rooms, \vhich is the bane of successiully 
flowering the whole Dianthus family. 



Il6 CARNATinN CULfUR^^ 

Forty to ^ixty-five degrees, ocbiisionally higher 
in day time, with a moist atmosphere, will insure 
their successful cultivation." 

I append a catalogue of the best named varie- 
ties of Pinks now in cultivat;cn. 



CATALOGUE OF PINKS. 

Anne Boleyn, dark rose, crimson maroon 
center, forces well. 

* Alfred Harrington. 

Atola, violet rose, crimson center. 

Alba Fimbriata, white, frino-ed, a o-ood winter 
bloomer. 

Betrace, pure while, early, forces well. 

Brunette. 

Claude. 

Cerus, rosy violet. 

Dianthus Hybridus Multiflorus, foliage of pink, 
(lowers like a Carnation. 

Dianthus Querteri. large crimson flowers, con- 
tinuous summer bloomer. 

Defiance. 

Etna. 

EsLhcr. •' - - 

Earl of Carlisle. 

Grenadin, scarlet, like a dwari Carnation". 

Imogen, pale straw color, crimson margin:^ ]^.,-^ 

Juliet, white ground, llaked red and-' pink*.- i--«--'*^ 



CARNATION CULTURF, 



I 17 



Jules Ferry, white, wine purple center. 

Jean Sisley, large, rose, shaded crimson, very 
frao^rant. 

Laura Wlhnore. 

Lord Lyons, crimson, laced with rose. 

Minerva, blush, with amaranth center, 

Mrs. Stephen-. 

Mrs. Potiphar. 

Napoleon III, rich crimson, profuse bloomer. 

Oracle, wliite, crimson cenrer. 

Prince Arthur. 

Pumila. 

Stanislaus, violet rose, deep crimson center. 

Snow, (Syn. Mrs. Sinkins,) flowers large, best 
white, blooms at Easter. 

, Viola, bright lemon, pink and red margin. 

Valentine, opaque white, bright .pink stripes. 




.■?•* 



IIS 



CAR^^'lTrOX CL^LTURE, 




Type of the Flowers of Scotch Pinks. 



No. 1 - Lon\ Lvons. 
** 2 - Uruiielte. 
"3- I'uiuila. 



Xo. 4 - Alfred H^rriitiitoii. 
*' 5 - A Urn Fimbriata. 
'' 6 - Prince Artliui. 



CHAl^TER XXll. 

TOMATOES IN CONNECTION WITH BENCH CAKNA'nONS. 
BY VVM. SWAYNE, KENNETT SQIARE, PA^"^* 



$■ 



j^have practiced the following- plan of growing 
y^i Tomatoes, as a succession crop with Carnations 
yg;^ for the past two seasons and found it to pay 
pil|g well; in no way as I can see, interfering with 
the growth of the Carnations, but. to the contrarx , if 
not planted too closely, a decided advantage lo iliem 
in the hot summer months. 

We commence operations by sowing the seed 
from December first to tenth. There is nothing 
gained by sowing sooner, as plants would become 
too large, interfering with Carnation plants belore 
the time when that shading is really needed. We 
pick out in shallow trays when second leaf appears, 
avoiding crowding in every instance. When they 
have become good stocky plants and growing freely, 
pot in three inch pots, shift as often as needed until 
a six inch pot is reached; these to economize space 
are set on south side of benches, where they get 
plenty of light, in houses where they are to grow, 
until they are well filled with roots; never allow 
tliem to become too much pot bound. 

When this stage is reached, (about February 
first,) they are placed where they are to fruit. 



120 CA KXATIOX CLUTUKi:. 

Our plan is to lift two or three Carnation plants 
every four feet on iiortJi side of bench as much as 
practicable, thus the Carnations get the advantage of 
all the sun needed until the Tomatoes are well 
grown, by which time hot weather reaches us and 
the shade given by the Tomatoes is really a positive 
advantage to the blooming Carnation plants. 

The depth of soil on our benches is from five 
to six inches, and we make no difference in treat- 
ment of Tomatoes than for Carnations; in fact we 
take the best possible care of Carnations, and allow 
the Tomatoes to take care of themselves. 

They do best in a good, rich, somewhat sandy 
soil; one house we grow Peter Henderson Carnation 
which requires a heavier soil. 

In it I find the fruit a trifle later in maturing and 
not quite so smooth and fair, but heavy. 

The most important part in growing Tomatoes 
successfully, is the pruning of the vines; this we 
commence as soon as the first blossom bud appears, 
or as soon as the leading shoot above the blossom 
can be got at to pinch out, leaving one leaf only 
above the blossom. 

The next shoo, that comes out below the 
bunch of buds is allow^ed to grow until it develops 
bjds, \Ahen it too is pruned, exactly as the first, and 
so on until three or four sets of fruit branches are 
produced, or less if they get too tali for the houses, 
keeping off all suckers and side shoots. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 121 

Alter we get as much fruit set as we think will 
mature before out door fruit ripens and the leaves 
commence to throw out suckers, which they will do, 
I have found it advantageous to cut away some of 
the lower, riper leaves and keep all leading shoots 
off, thus throwing all the strength of the vine into 
the fruit. 

Vines on the north bench are set about twelve 
inches from the back which are tied to strong stakes. 

When they reach the glass, are trained up the 

rafters by suspending wires, after the form of vines 

in cold graperies, until the required height is attained. 

When middle benches are wide, say six feet, 
two rows can be planted; each row about ten inches 
from the sides; these I prefer to stake with long 
stakes reaching to the rafters and secured either by 
wire running along and fastened with little staples, or 
else by a small one to the rafter for each pole and 
securely tied so as not to have them falling around 
when full of fruit. 

The plants should never be set closer than 
three and one-half feet; four feet is better; after they 
have been pinched off at the second blossom, two or 
three of the lower leaves can be taken off, which 
will let more air around the Carnation plants. 

Carnations continue to flower well up into July, 
grown with tomatoes, two or three weeks later than 
on benches where no tomatoes are grown. 

Tomatoes grown in a house have to be fertil- 
ized artificially, which should be regularly done at 
east every other day. 



122 CARNATION CULTURE. 

I use a small camel hair brush at first, and after 
they get to producing buds freely, merely go over 
and give the blossom stalks a little jar with a small 
stick or with the hand; this distributes the pollen 
sufficiendy to do the work. 

The Tomato is a perfect blossom itself, but in 
a house there is no wind to shake the vines enouo^h 
to produce the effect of fertilizing. 

Do not depend on the bees to do the work, 
during warm days in early summer. I have seen hun- 
dreds of bees amoung the other flowers, but have 
the first one yet to see on a tomato blossom. 

The fruit with us commenees to ripen the latter 
part of April and continues until tomatoes come in 
from out doors. 

Plants for the year 1885, averaged eleven 
pounds per vine, average price for season 177^^ cents 
per pound; fruit was sent in the hands of a commis- 
sion man going to market twice a week. No doubt if 
it had been sent direct to some fancy fruit dealer, 
they would have done much better. 

The variety used was the "Mayflower," a 
medium sized fruit, very productive 2.nd nearly always 
perfect, and do not seem to run so much to vine as 
many other varieties. 

Some growers near me use Trophy and other 
varieties but I think the Mayflower surpasses them 
all for productiveness, and a medium size tomato 
seems to sell better than the very large ones. 

While no doubt tomatoes would do much better 
with a night temperature of 65 degrees, and would 



CARNATION CULTURE. I 23 

produce fruit earlier, &c., yet we find they grow well 
at fifty degrees and take a place as a second crop, 
which goes a good way toward keeping down 
expenses. 

Thus I am satisfied in my own mind that they 
are not only a profitable crop to grow themselves, 
but you can o^row Carnations longer by growing 
them toget!ier. 

There are some rules, however, that must be 
closely followed to insure success. 

In houses running North and South the princi- 
ple of setting is immaterial. 

Firsts Not to sow seed before dates mention- 
ed above. 

Second, Never for once neglect in any way to 
fertilize at least every other day. 

Third, Prune promptly, and never allow 
suckers to grow. Plants left to themselves would 
soon overrun ever)^ thing, for they grow more luxu- 
riantly in a green-house than out doors. 

Fourth, Stake at once as soon as planted, and 
remember in pruning never to leave more than three 
or four sets of blossoms, and give air as you would 
Carnations if the tomatoes were not there. 

* I have had no experience raising Tomatoes in 
connection with bench Carnations. 

I visited Mr. Swayne's houses in June, 1886, and 
the condition, and appearance of both Tomatoes and 
Carnations, seemed to fully justify all the statements 
made in this plainly written chapter. 



124 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



I am so confident of Tomatoes being a practical 
and profitable addition to Carnation growing, that I 
design to generally grow them this season on the 
Carnation benches. 

This chapter is strictly german to the subject 
matter of this treatise, and so far as I know, Mr. 
Swayne's article is the first that has been published 
on this subject. [Ed.) 



??■/% ., 




CARNATION CULTURE. 



125 




The above old cut Is of a group of three Car- 
nation-, natural size, made fourteen years ago. 

Edwardsii, La Puritie (red,) and La Puritie (va- 
riegated.) It forcibly illustrates the feature of devel- 
opment, which so wonderfully attaches to this class 
of plants. 




CHAPTER XXIII. 

ANALYSIS OF THE CARNATION CATALOGUE -AND OTHER 

ITEMS. 

HE followlnof Cataloo^ue of Carnations is 
arranged alphabetically, and embraces all 
the varieties of merit of European and 
American origin. 

The ''classes' are separated with as much accu- 
racy as it has been possible for me to obtain. 

In each of these seven classes . there are three 
natural divisions; viz: the "Old," "Scarce" and 
"New" Sorts. 

The "Old Class" are those which are profusely 
introduced, and many of them are the kinds now 
chiefly and generally cultivated. 

These are designated with the letter "O." 
The Scarce class have been before the public 
for two or three years, but as a rule, not yet suffici- 
ent in quantity to be grown extensively for cut 
flowers. 

It requires Irom six to eight years to generally 
and profusely introduce a new Carnation, so that it 
can go on the benches by the tens of thousands. 
This class is marked with a letter "S." 
A few of the "New" class were offered in 1886, 
and others will be in 1887, and some not till the 
spring of 1888. 



CARNATION CULTURE. I 27 

This list embraces nearly thirty varieties. 

I have had the pleasure of seeing some of these 
plants and many of the Flowers. 

They are oi promising merit and a few of them 
extraordinarily so. 

This class is marked with the letter *'N." 

If Jean Sisley is correct, the history of the 
ever-blooming section o{'Q2.xx\2X\ox\s, does not reach 
back over thirty years. 

Even this brief period of time has sadly obscured 
the origin of the first introduced varieties. 

The first kinds of merit, as winter bloomers that 
have at all maintained themselves, were probably 
introduced about 1868. 

They were La Puritie, Pres. DeGraw and Ed- 
wardsii. 

Some of my correspondents have been quite 
firm in the opinion that they were introduced from 
Europe. 

The weight of the testimony is that they are to 
the manor born. 

Astoria is doubtless the first yellow variegated 
kind of merit. 

It is not material about dates of introduction, 
only as a matter of accurate and interesting history. 

The electrotype on page 125, was ordered 
executed by Chas. T. Starr, fourteen years ago. 

It represents the natural size at that time, the 
two La Purities and Edwardsii. 

This old electrotype is interesting, as showing 
the possibility of improvement in the size of the 
flowers in existing kinds. 



1^8 CARNATION CULTURE. 

Edwardsii has been long and continuously 
grown in America, in widely different localities, and 
Under very diverse management. 

These circumstances may have w^orked localy 
feome change in the habit o( the plant, and character 
of the Hower. 

This doubtless is the reason of its many aliases 
as seen in the catalogue. 

Edwardsii is still a variety of some merit. 

Thos. Seal, a veteran grower for the Philadel- 
phia market, says: It is his first choice of all the 
whites for winter bloom. 

Another Florist under the name of Peerless., 
says: It is the best white summer bloomer. 

None of its various synonyms, even if they 
had a different origin, show essential difference in 
fact. 

The four old kinds mentioned are certainly the 
parents, or grand parents of most all the American 
varieties now in cultivation. 

They are all still cultivated to some extent and 
in a few msiSinces pre/erred to all others. 

Waiving the question of a decadence of vigor, 
it is the general opinion, the introduction of superior 
kinds is fast relegating them to the rear. 

The description of kinds in the catalogue is 
very brief. 

Strong adjectives and all the rhetoric of the 
catalogues is purposely avoided. 

The novice in Carnation growing is doubtless 
bewildered at the relative prices of Carnation plants, 
as found in catalogues. 



CARNATION CULTURE. I 29 

The known standard kinds are quoted the 
lowest. 

The scarce, new, and possibly less worthy 
kinds are quoted the highest. 

The solution is, there is an ample stock on hand 
of the standard sorts to propagate from. 

Florists as a rule buy new varieties sparingly, 
because they are high priced, and often prove 
unmeritorious. 

The Carnation plant is peculiar in that it seems 
to revolt at man's dictatorship over a compar- 
ison of the relative merits of the family. 

The varieties one person succeeds with, another 
person will fail with. 

It bounds a man's knowled^-e of its individual 
worth with the modest, unassuming words "^;^^^r /;^j^ 
management^ 

This may be explained to an extent, on the 
grounds ot short and imperfect trial tests. 

Experience proves that a Carnation should 
not be condemned on a short trial. 

Some of the new and most promising kinds 
speedily fail to justify expectations, while several of 
the most valued kinds, now grown, were cultivated 
for years before they vindicated their just merits. 

What constitutes long and sho7^t stem Carna- 
tion flowers is very indefinite. 

All the flowers can be cut with lon^r stems at 
the sacrifice of a large number of unopened buds. 

Many varieties have their buds in a close clus- 
ter, and full blown flowers can not be plucked with 
long stems, without sacrificing the whole cluster. 



130 • CARNATION CULTURE. 

Other kinds bear their flowers on a peduncle, or 
flower stem, varxini^" from one to six inches lono-. 

1 iiese can he cut witli a stem wi.lhout destroy- 
ing- other buds, or at least so many other buds. 

There are but few kinds but what there is some 
loss of buds, if cut with lono" stems. 

The average increased price for long stem 
flowers is about double that for short stems. 

This augmented value is supposed to be coni- 
pensation for the trouble of stemming, and loss of 
undeveloped buds. 

There are a few in the catalogue, (in my opin- 
ion) comparatively worthless; a few have not 
desirable colors; a few are so shy of their bloorii 
as to be unprofitable; a few burst so badly that the 
petals hang down the flower stalk, while the rest are 
imprisoned in the calyx. Even these have their 
friends, and I could not expunge them from a 
o^eneral list. 

As a matter of merited recognition I have 
given the names in small caps, in the list, of the 
person with whom the varieties originated. 

On this point in some cases there have been 
conflicting opinions of correspondents. 

And in some other cases it might be a matter 
of speculation as to who is entitled to the merit, 
the man (or bee) that cross-fertilized the seed, or the 
man that bought the seed and grew the plant. 

The old question which is the mother, the hen 
that laid the eQ^^^, or the hen that hatched the chick.-* 

Carnation flowers in California are prized very 
highly. 



CAl-'NATH^X CULTURE. I3I 

It is the nature of the plant in that chmate to 
put on perennial habits. 

To maintain their usual profusion of bloom, new 
plants must be started ever\' year. 

Dianthus Hybridus jNIultifloris, and Dianthus 

Ouerteri. listed in the Scotch Pink cataloo^ue, 
ai'e of German origin. 

I have been unable to ascertain their parentage, 
bui: they are very dis-imilar in habits to the rest of the 
list. They will not bear indoor treatment. 

Much complaint is made by Carnation o-rowers 
about damage done Carnations on benches by rats 
and mice. 

An effective remedy is to rear a Cat in the 
Carnation houses. 

Those who grow Carnations for cut-flowers 
should not overdo the matter by filling their house, 
or houses with a great number of varieties. 

Get the best adapted to the locality, and keep 
the range of selections within the proper limits. 

A fczv standard kinds are much better than 
many, for market purposes. 

Leave a large list of varieties to those who 
propagate for the general plant market, which is 
another branch of the business 

I have labored assiduously to gather all the 
Information possible on the history of the Carnation 
plant. 

I believe the Increasinof demand for this flower 
will make such knowledge vitally Interesting In the 
future. 



132 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



Whatever my success has been in this regard, 
it will be garnered data subject to verification and 
use by future writers. I have had nothing of this 

kind to assist me. 

I am satisfied, with the assistance of friends, to 

have rescued from oblivion as much as I have, 
relative to this important plant. 




CATALOGUE OF THE 
WHITE CLASS OF CARNATIONS. 



Edv^aj^dsii. (a. edwards.) [o.] (^yn- Boule 
de Neige, Louis Zeiller, Peerless, Ava- 
lanche, Snow Ball, White Perfection, Snow 
White.) Vigorous habits, perfect flower, 
fair winter and summer bloomer. 

Fisher's jEcu'ly ^^Jxife. (fishkr.) [s.j 
Healthy habit, early, flower perfect, large 
and fringed. 

Henzie's Vi^Jiite.' (henzik.) [o.] Fine tall 
grower, matured flower very large and 
white, rather late. 

Jbhrc R. Jilzvrdocl'c. (simmons.) [s.j Extra 
habit, large flower, good bloomer. 

JeCLThixette. (thorpe.) [s.] Strong grower, free 
bloomer, firm petals, seedling of Peter 
Henderson. 

JJCL FlJsrttte. (carle france.) [n.] Healthy branch- 
ing habit, long stems, very free early 
bloomer. 

L. L. LcLTTtboTTh. (swAYNE.) [N] Plant dwarf, 
early free continuous bloomer, long stems, 
does not burst, parents Henderson and 
Snowden. 



134 CARNATION CULTURE. 

Lady M(lllcI(>. (edwards.) [s.] Good jj-row- 
er large flowers. 

J^iile CcLvle. (CAULK, KKANCK.) [N.] Healthy 
branching, average size, habit free, early, 
very symmetrical flower. 

Jilcu'iJ -An.cierHoii. (simmons.) [s] Stand- 
ard size grower, very large flowers. 

Pres. DegrcL^v. ^zkh-lkr.) [c] (Syn. Flat 
Bush.) Habits dwarf, stem weak, average 
size flower, early, fringed, one of the oldest.' 

JPeter Ileridersf.iz. (chaulton.) [o.] Vigor- 
ous healthy grower, medium, early, shell- 
like petals, flowers large, do not burst, 
standard sort, likes stiff soil. 

Qixeen. of T\^hztrs. (knglish origin.) [o] 

Standard size plant, average merit as a 
winter bloomer. 

QjxcLpLer City. (banyarp.) [s.] Very dwarf 
and compact habit, extra free bloomer, but 
late in February and March. 

Secretary Iliuxt. (simmons.) [s.j Compact 
habit, free bloomer, large flower. 

Sjxotv Hall. (BKETMYHK.) [0.] Avcragc grow- 
er and bloomer, seedling of Degraw and 
much like it. 

SnOT\^de7X. (mkndf.rson.) [0.] Dwarf branching 
grower, very early, extra free bloomer, 
average size flower, good calyx support. 

Sea. FooJirt. (itam.ock.) [S.J Medium size grow- 
er, large flowers, double, fine texture, and 
frao^rant. 



CARNATION CULTURE. I 35 

S/ to w- 73o7i 7\cl. (coNK.M..) [x] Dwarf grower, 
free early bloomer. 

WlLiicutl- Sweety fui. (svvaynk) [x] Parents 
Snowden and Henderson, plant a health)- 
standard grower, early and perpetual 
bloomer, long stems, perfect calyx support, 
flowers large and very double. 



CATALOGUE OF THE 
SCARLET CLASS OF CARNATIONS. 



AlegcutieT'e-. (alk^atikhf, i-ranck.) [x.] Dwarf 

and very healthy habit, large flow^ers on 
long stems, perpetual bloomer, fine shade of 
scarlet; acres of this sort raised for the 
Paris market. 

B. A. KJliott. (SIMMONS.) [S.] Healthy 

branching grower, continuous but not a 
free bloomer, very large flowers, vermilion 
scarlet. 

IBrUltaJif. [0.] Bright scarlet, fragrant, fair 
grower. 

TDeftarico. [o.] Scarlet Carnation, esteemed for 
outdoor flowerinof. 

JtlrljTions. [0.] Healthy, bright scarlet, quite 
fragrant. 



136 CARNATION CULTURE. 

Fomnrp WlsJip'*. (kisukh.) [n.] Good 
healthy grower, scarlet salmon, fragrant. 

J^Lra JBrruirl. (,:kip.) [o] Gross healthy 
grower, moderate bloomer, deep red. 

( I (UUitlpf. [rrj Strong grower, abundant 

bloomer, light shade carmine. 

CJr'arui.ditxe. (kuropk.) [s.] Intense scarlet. 

flcLrry 'Painter. (palmer.) [n] Large, 
good grower, shell-shaped petals, fine scar- 
let. 

Johrt ^^^cCnllongJi . (s.mmons.) [s.j Good 
grower, large flowers, brilliant scarlet. 

tTctnxes 1:^. ^Wiiy^Trlcin.d. (thorpk.) [s] Flow- 
er very large, perfect shape, deeply fringed, 
moderately free bloomer, brilliant scarlet. 

L/CLcLy ErrLincL (starr.) [o] Dwarf, compact 
habit, flowers profusely, good scarlet. 

ZjCL P rj'itie. {j^ecL) (ze.m.kr.) [o.j Healthy, 
medium size grower, very free bloomer, 
one of the first sorts introduced. 

Tjogn Ti . (,;raham.) [X.] Good grower, flowers 
large, light red. 

Portici. (thorpk.) [(>.] (Syn. Fred. Johnson.) 
Vigorous constitution, flowers medium size, 
freely produced, intense bright scarlet. 

^r"S. Gri rflpld . (brrtmyrk) [o.]^ Strong 
compact grower, quite tree, perfect flower, 
one of the best for pots, English vermillion. 



CARNATION CULTURE. I 37 

JP/iilcLdelphicL. (kichnor.) [s] (Syn. Metior.) 
Tall straight grower, branching style, very 
free, bright scarlet. 

Rohei't Craig. (mccal.am.) [s.] Very neat 
branching, healthy grower, profuse bloom- 
er, fine shade oi scarlet. 

SeCLCCL^JiCUS. (HUDSON, CO., N. Y.) [0.] A light shade 
of carmine. 

ScCLJ^let Grem. (graham.) [o.j Dwarf vigorous 
habit, free flowering, rich dazzling scarlet. 

Secretoj^y Wirhdonx. (simmons.) [s.j Free 
grower, constant bloomer, brilliant scarlet. 

TJxe Century. (starr.) [s.] Remarkable 
healthy grower, medium height, full double, 
rich fragrance, glowing carmine, suffused 
with a magenta shading. 

Whzttiei^. (SIMMONS.) [s.] Bright vermillion 
scarlet, buds of great size, liable to burst. 

'WcLVerly. (scott.) [o.] Large bright red. 
'X^ZJ^eiX. (STARR.) [0.] Large bright red. 



CRIMSON CLASS OF CARNATIONS. 



A:rLTLCL TVebb. (fisher.) [n.j Medium size, 

branching habit, very free, perpetual 
bloomer. 

JBoTLTty TDooTL. (HENDKRsoN.) [0.] Bright magenta. 



I3S CARNATION CULTURE. 

J3lcic?c J'Cn_.ig7it. (thorpe ) [o.j Standard size 
plant, long stems, fragrant, deep crimson. 

Brijar\t (simmons.) [sj Free bloomer, soft lake, 
with dark stripes. 

J3cLltic. [o] Dark maroon. 

J3r-ussels. (staer.) [p.] Strong bushy style, 
very double, free, cherry red with broad 
stripes of maroon. 

CliftOJi Fisher\ (p,sher.) [n.] Very large, 
dark crimson. 

Crirrtson I^nxg. (white) [o.j Robust, stand- 
ard height, free, deep crimson. 

Col. 'WildeT\ (THORPE.) [s.] Fine habit, free, 
perfect shape, large, vivid red, flaked with 
black. 

CccrdsitxaZ. (fisher.) [s.] Strong tall habit, flow- 
ers very large, deep maroon with spots of 
white. 

jJcLl^l^ness. (0.) Crimson maroon. 

JE. Gr. Hill. (THORPE.) [s.] Fine shade of scarlet, 
and style extra, early and free, long stems. 

JFletcL FcLZ/ Foster^, (oberly.) [n.] Medium 
branchy, healthy, perpetual, free, never 
bursts, magenta suffused wdth violet. 

Fer^dincLThd JilcLixgold. (simnons.) [s.] Free, 
continuous, long stems, very large, dark 
red shaded with maroon. 

Hervrietta. [o.] Dark red. 



CARNATION CULTURE. * 1 39 

HizgJx G-rcLJ^cuTLs (graham.) [n.] Good grow- 
er, flowers large, dark scarlet. 

I^CLLzaT' Wzllioiix. . (KOTKLBFTz.) [s.] Violet pur- 
ple, magenta shadings, 

J^f/te. [s.] Dark fiesh color, fragrant. 

K^irtg (^i' tJxe CrtJixsoixs. (white.) [oj Dark 
rich shade of crimson, produced in profu- 
sion. 

Louts Lenotr. (eeiller.) [s.] Dark maroon, 

JL/OTV^elZ. (SIMMONS.) [s.] Rich deep purple, crim- 
son shaded with violet, very large. 

jlfi7^a^7i.cLcL. (THORPE.) [s.] Strong grower, free 
bloomer, rich plum color. 

J\£rs. J^eerta. (vetch, England.) [X.] Very large 
flowers, shy bloomer. 

OrieTzt. (fisher.) [X.j Crimson. 

OthelZo. [s.] Good habit, free bloomer, 

crimson. 

^zirple Cro^VTh. [o.j Maroon shaded 
purple. 

SecLWOJTL. (jEFFRYs.) [s.] Dwarf,' compact, 
healthy, fine habit, good calyx support, 
deep crimson, fine for pots. 

SecT'Ptcu^y ICii^kvj^ood. (simmons) [s.j Large, 
form good, deep brilliant crimson. 

Topsy. fs^ARR.^ [s.] Deep velvet maroon, petals 
like shells. 

'VesixvizLS. (HENDERSON) [0.] (Syn. Starr.) Large 
flowers, dark crimson. 



140 CARNATION CULTURE. 

W I lippeT-In . (TETCH, ENGLAND.) [N.] LaFgc flow- 
ers, scarlet and black. 

W^ ^V. Coles. (TnoRPE.) [N.] Long stems, free 
bloomer, very early, light scarlet, good 
habit. 



PINK CLASS OF CARNATIONS. 



^/Irrher^iccLTL ']Vo7ider. (hippard.) [s] Dwarf 
bushy growth, strong lons^ flower stems, 
large perfect flowers, freely produced, 

J^JhcLTLJj. [0.] Carmine pink. 

Becvuity. („ill.) [o.j Rose motded with carmine 
and red. 

ClxcLS, Henda-nsoTL. (thorpe.) [s.] Free grow- 
er, large flowers, light carmine rose. 

ChcLS. Sjzmjner^. (bock.) [o.] (Syn. Bock's 
Seedling.) Rank habit, large, flowers finely 
fringed, fragrant, bright pink. 

JDcLWix. rsTARR.) [s.] Dwarf, early and" profuse» 
deep rose centre shaded with white. 

FcuwTh. [N.] Delicate pink. 

FlOTeTtce JBevis. (graham.) [ki Good grow- 
er, large, flowers fringed, light pink. 

GrrcLce Fcurdon, (simmons.) [s.j Vigorous 
grower, average size flower, tree bloomer, 
pure rich pink. 



CARNATION CULTURE. I4I 

GrcLce 'Wild-er. (tailby.) [s.] Good stand- 
ard grower, ordinarily free, fine rose pink. 

JcLTThes Pej^lx.tns, (simmons.) [s.] Quite free 
habit, good size flowers, unusually fragrant, 
continuous bloomer, pure soft rose. 

Loihgfell o^^^ . (simmons.) [s.] Healthy and free 
bloomer, flowers large, soft salmon rose. 

LtlLvl. (HENDERSON.) [S.J Light pink. 

IjCLcly Chcttttrh. (staru.) [s.] Parents La 
Puritie and Astoria, rosy carmine, striped 
and flaked with crimson and maroon. 

LjCLlLrcL. (vetch, England.) [n.] Light Salmon, very 
large and free, 

Le i'CLVOJ^t. (LA coNDiE, FRANCE.) [X.] A vcry free 
variety, hard to propagate. 

j\drs. A. RoZker. (thorpe.) [s] Fair grower, 
pale flesh tint, deeply fringed. 

JKIi^s. JVLcLixgolcL. (thorpe.) [s.j Fine free habit, 
large flowers, soft salmon. 

Jdr*s, GcLTfield. (bretmyre.) [s.l Broad foliage, 
very robust, rich shade of Chinese pink. 

j\£cty Qizeerh. (thorpe.) [s.j Tall grower, large 
flowers, broad petals, deep pink. 

][£rs. JHcITenzie. (henderson. [s.j Rose color, 
finely fringed. 

JHctd. CfiCLSSons. (alegatiere, FRANCE.) [s.] Deep 
rose. 

JVTrs. Joltjf. (GEO. joLiFF, ENGLAND.) [0.] Standard 
size plant, early, fair size flower, delicate 
flesh tint. 



142 CARNATION CULTURE. 

FetlzrticL. (thorpe.) [s.] Large flower, rich laven- 
der rose, mottled with white, deeply fringed. 

Princess Lousise. (tailby.) [o.] Rose pink, flow, 
ers extra large. 

Hose IILIL (BALLENDoz. [s.i (Syn. Rosedale.) 
Dwarf habit, very profuse bloomer, a shade 
darker than Grace Wilder. 

Rosy J\£om. (Henderson.) [S.] Salmon pink. 

RosCLlirtd. (thorpe.) [s.] An extra tall habit, 
long stems, quite free, a lively shade of 
pink. 

SheIlflo~v,^eT (henderson.) [o.j a beautiful 
shade of delicate rose. 

Stcvr of the 'West. [o.] Deep pink. 

Spr'irig field, (muller.) [o.j Light pink striped, 
fine grower and bloomer. 

Victor^' (PAGE.) [N.] (Syn. Pages Seedling.) 
Average size, very free. 



» * ♦ > ♦ 



YELLOW CLASS OF CARNATIONS. 



Aixdoloixsie. (europe.) [n.] Large flowers, 
freely produced, upright branching habit, 
sulphur yellow, deeply fringed, fragrant, 
medium early. 

Bell HcLllcbdcty. (europe.) [s.] Quite late In 
blooming. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 1 43 

Field- of CtoIcL. (starr.) [s.] Parents Astoria 
and Edwardsii, small good yellow flower, 
quite late, Feb. and March. 

JPride of JPeJi shines t. (ecrope.) [n.j Stocky 
habit, late, a variety of g-reat expectations. 

JTelloTV Qzzeen-. (europe.) [s.j Late bloomer. 



Yellow-Variegated Class of Carnations. 



A.stOT*ta.. (wiLLsoN.) [0.] Good grower, yellow 
striped carmine; this is one of the oldest, 
if not the oldest, yellow-variegated Carna- 
tions in America, and is one of the parents 
of some of the finest kinds. 

A^stOT^icL 13erftixa, [o.] Fair grower, orange 
yellow, mottled crimson. 

A^mei^iccLTh Florist, (starr.) [x.j Very healthy 
grower, medium height, profuse bloomer, 
long stems, flowers large and full, yellow 
flaked carmine. 

BixtteT'CLip . (STARR.) [s.] Robust grower, free 
bloomer, medium size plant, long stems, 
parents-Astoria and La Puritie, pencled 
deep lemon yellow, sparingly carmine. 

ColzLmbtcL. (THORPE.) [X.] Healthy, long stems, 
perfect calyx support, early, rosy salmon, 
dashed brio-ht scarlet, frino-ed and robust. 



144 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



IJolly 'V^curden.. (hendkrson.) [oj Vig-orous habit, 
free bloomer, buff striped crimson and 
maroon. 

Dc FoTttcLJXCL, [o.] Orang-e striped crimson. 

Dixke of Oj^CLTcge, (starr) [o.] Fair habit 
late bloomer, productive, striped orange, 
edcred carmine, Parents- Astoria and 
Edwardsii. 

EmersiOrt. (simmons.) [s.] Salmon, striped ver- 
million. 

FcLl^T^a gizt . [s.j Carmine and yellow neatly 
laced, edged purple and maroon. 

FcLlxcy. (STARR.) [s.] Fine habit, scarlet shaded 
yellow, striped with crimson. 

Olory of T^erhice, [o.] Orange and rose. 

IdcL JMcty. (CONRAD.) [s.] Excellent habit, rich 
creamy yellow, marble- and splashed with 
carmine and pink. 

Jctmes J3, JCidd. (simmons. [s.j Branching 
nature, flowers large, cream colored, mark- 
ed purple, Vermillion. 

JecLTL Sisley. (alkgatiere, france.) [n.] Vigorous, 
fine habit, large flowers buff, ground with 
scarlet stripes. 

JcLTThes J\dfLcLtson, [O.] Yellow striped, 
carmine. 

Zjtttle BecLTzty. (starr.) [s.] Rich yellow, 
dotted and edged with rose. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 1 45 

iL/i/dicL, rsTARR.) [{)] Tall grower, flowers very 
large and double, with intense clove fra- 
grance, orange yellow. 

Mnn.s. GcU7zhettrt. iz^.u.uvAx) [o.] Fair grow- 
er, orange, and yellow variegated, 

Jifr^i, fJ. Uippa f'cl . (tmorpk.) [s.j Dwarf 
habit, free, medium size flower, perfect 
shape, orange shaded and penciled with 
crimson. 

jpoe. (SIMMONS.) [s.] Cream specked with purple. 

It, R. JParl^pp. (=.TAKR.) [N.i Dwarf com|>art 
habit, free, large double, peach-blow flaked 
, with carmine. 

Secretcu'ij IttxcolTx, (simmons.) r^.i Solferi- 
no, shaded purple and violet, large, flaked 
with crimson. 

Scnx-Rise. (kicunoi^o [g.i Good habit, free, long 
stems, orange. 

SlZ7X-Set. (iiipiv.Kn.) [X.] Yellow and scarlet, 
fringed, strong habit, flowers very large. 

SeJXSCLtion. (tmorp^:.) [s. i Perfect form, crimson 
yellow, pink and white. 

^^eruzs. (sTAUi.) [S] Light canary yellow, slight 
stripes of carmine, parents - Astoria and 
Edwardsii. 



White-Variegated Class of Carnations. 



AjTtei^tccLtx I3niij\et\ [x.] Striped with 
carmine and white, white ground, edged 
and spotted with crimson. 



J 46 CARNATION CULTURE. 

Al^oriCZctle. rsTARn.) [s] Free, white, .'edged 
widi purple and maroon. 

^i. CFitzpcbf ric. ^shimons.) \9.-\ Free, branch- 
ing habit, dwarf, healthy grower, pure 
white, and crimson-variegated. 

^JBcujctrrL Trtylc)!'. (stahu^ [s.] Large, . white 
and crimson-variegated. 

ClccrcL Jilori'is. (simmons.) [s.j Model flovv-er, 
pure white, edge petals margined crimson. 

C/iesLe/' Pi^icle. (j. ki.waim.s) [o.] Never 
bursts, winter bloomer, free, white penciled 
rosy carmine. 

Calico. (sTARii.) [s.] Creamy white, terra-cotta 
and crimson, edged white. 

lEtzreka., (stark.) [s.' Dwarf, white, edged and 
striped peach-blow\ 

Fcttry Prt'icxi^s, (t,i„upk.) [>^.] Large, i ure 
white, penciled with purple and crimson. 

iPcLSCZTirLtion. [o.] Large, full, pure white, 
blotch with rosy scarlet. 

Geo, 'WcLshinxftorL^ (zkmi.e«.) [o.j White 
ground, dotted cherry red. 

'Htrhsdnle. (ai.lkn.) \o.\ (Syn. Allen's Degraw\) 
i White, striped vith pink. 

IIolm.es. (s.MMON...) [s.i Free, perfect flower, 
pure white, sprinkled with rose. 

tT. J. HcurTisou . (s.vm.»ns.) [s.j (Syn. Pink 
of Perfecdon.) Vigorous, Jiealthy habit, 
flower fair size, free, does not burst, fra- 
grant, long stems, satin white, marked 
shaded pink. 



CARNATION culture; I47 

iLcL Ej^cMlcTii. (STARR.) [0.] Pure white, car- 

.: mine edge. 

'LllZicux. . (STARR.) [o.] Vigorous grower, small 

flower, white, striped deep crimson. 
Let PixrU ie-\-ru\ (Tr-sNnKRsoN) [o] Healthy, 

free, a sport of La Puritie [red.] 
JArs. II. C. FricJx,. (.s.mmo.ns.) [s] " Unhealthy, 

white, slighdy variegated with purple 

crimson. 
JilcLLZclo. (STARR.) [.*^.i Strong grower, white with 

slight penciling of carmine. 
JilcLJ'geiqj, [0] Strong standard grower, 

white, striped with vermillion. 
J[IcL"y Dcu^ce. [o.] White, tinged with pink! 
Jllrs. ^V. yl. IlcLt'iis. (T.ioRPK.) [s.] Good 

habit, large fine shape flower, fragrant. 
'jVot jK^ruTicrL (snAKKL.)[N.j White, marbled 

rosy pink. 
JPKilcLclelph ? a- TW t\ (starr) [s.] Early, 

long stems, white, heavily edged with crim- 
son. 
Secretcf r-ij M cA^eir/Ti . (s.mmons.) [s.] (Syn. 

Chas. J. Clark.) Large, white, shaded rose. 
Sec~retm'iJ Jcunci^. (simmo.vs.) [s.] (Syn. Mrs. 

Carson.) White, striped scarlet. 
SecJ^cUirqj clflcLinr. (simmons.) [s.j (Syn. Mrs. 

Carnagic.) White with rosy pink stripes, 

wmII burst. 

TJjxcle HffJll. /TMPLF..) [x.] White, striped 

with light pink, 
'V^CU^-IjCL B(/ll(\ (STARR.) [s.] White, penciled 

rosy carmine. 

yV^, H. Ijrov\^cj\ [X.] Delicately penciled 

, scarlet:. 



l^S CARNATION CULTURE. 

— The disease of Carnations called Brown-mould 
IS of Encrlish oriofin; its first manifestation in America 
has been seen on the Pride of Penshurst, a variety of 
recent importation. 

. —A marked difference exists amoncr varieties of 
Carnations \n pi^omisino- tsxxA performifig their yield 
of bloom; some sorts remain in bud a long time, 
others bloom as soon as their buds are developed. 

— Pips is the name given to Carnation cutttings of 
incipient canes; after they show a joint, they make 
tall unsightly plants. The lowest healthy side shoots 
of the flower stems make stocky, symmetrical plants, 
always branching low, but do not bloom as soon as 
the former. 

— ?vIythology says tlie Carnation sprang from the 
blood of rival lovers, and the poetical language of 
the flower has been "Disdain." 

To modern Carnations is given a symbolical 
language of warmer and more generous sentiments 
according to their color. 

White — Purity. 

Scarlet — Dignity. 

Crimson — Ardent Love. 

Pink — Acceptance. 

Yellow — False, light as air. 

White- Variegated — Friendship only. 

Yellow-Variegated — Refusal. 

— It is the nature of the roots of biennial pkuits 
the first season to provide widiin themselves a 5:tore 
of nourishment and all necessary germs, for hill 
flowering and free fructification the second season.- 
The amount of root growth, the second season is 
quite limited, and the juices are not directed in crc- 



CARNATION CULTURE. I 49 

^tlng 7ieiv flower germs, or increasinor the store of 
nourishment, but are used for the inimediate living: 
wants of the plant. 

It is on this principle that the blooming- capacily 
of a Carnation in zvinter, is determined in the field 
during- S2{imiier\ favorable conditions the first season 
settles all, and the soil is the largest factor, in my 
opinion, with this plant. Cuttings from the same 
bench g^rown through summer in improper soil will 
be worthless for winter bloom, while those planted 
in proper soil will bloom profusely. 

— A flower is a transformed leafy branch. All its 
organs are natural green leaves, which have under- 
gone a peculiar change. All changes in flowers are 
but modified forms of their tissues, their tissues 
being modified forms of the leaves on the parenjt 
branch. 

Excessive plant nourishment, and conditions 
favoring its assimilation, is the key that unlocks all 
the mystery there is, in the unfoldment of new and 
better flowers. 

Plethora of plant food converts green leaves in- 
to bracts, bracts into sepals, sepals into petals, petals 
into stamins and swells the doubleness of the corrob 
la. The process of this modification is from the 
circumference toward the pistil, the central female 
organ. This law is not uniform in its operations. It 
is the conversion of the ororans of o^eneration into 
petals that causes double flowers to be barren of seed, 
the g'erms of new plants. 

The pistil is formed of a folded welded leaf. 
Natural conditions, quality and quantity of food, wiU 
in time reduce all highly improved flowers to a sin- 
gle, or to their natural t)'pe. The reverse is evolv- 



(1.50 CARNATION C L L T I RE. 

)ing now, and will continually in the future new and 
improved specimens in the Ho ral world, and the ulti- 
mate limit of these transformations is beyond the 
"conceptions of man. 1 
1 — r- » »»♦«♦ , ■ 



•^i 



mw*xx.oGf^s:> 



- I am done. I entered the Temple of Dianthus, 
and the little that I learned is written here. I leave 
the book, fofnvhat it is worth, an offering on the 
Altar. 

f : I love the Divine flower It has been loved in 
the past. Its fame began in the morning of the 
ryester-days. Three thousand years ago it shook its 
rfragrance from on/y five petals, and Greece, the 
fland of language and of learning, exclaimed Dio- 
aiithos!* 

It will live and o^row in esteem, as lono- as men 
homage at the shrine of beauty and of fragrance. 

' The soul's strong affinities for this flower make 
it equally appropriate to the smiles of youth, or to 
the wrinkles of. age; to the loneliness of the sick 
room; to seasons of pleasure, or to seasons of 
sorrow; to the gayties of the festal hour, or to lighten 
the shadows to the silent beyond. 

It is enduring. Its comely symmetry makes it 
the sweetest "Smile of Nature;" its wide range of 
beauteous colors an illuminated "Letter in the 
Alphabet of Angels." While its weird perfume is 
the epitome of all mystery, and makes it a Sis- 
yphus Flower, which mind will roll forever upward 
toward the Great Unknowable. 

It is not haughty, but simple and genial. It is 
not Queenly, but plainly democratic. 



CARNATION CULTURE. I5I 

In the young world's sunrise, it doubtless was a 
denizen of the Tropics. It has been a Pilgrim, and 
anchored near its Plymouth Rock. Earth's muta- 
tions made for it a home in the north. There it 
lives — ever-blooming as the flowers of the south, 
plainly grand, and defiantly beautiful. Its fragrance 
is of the gums and spices that are in the drowsy air 
of the isles of ocean, while its adorned corrolla 
shows thec(»lor wealth of all the zones 

Vatious flowers have shouldered for the world's 
applause. The Tulip, Dahlia and Camelia have 
waxed and waned. The Rose now has the people's 
smiles. This is fame, but how unstable ? It is hail- 
ed the "Queen of Flowers." ^'Her Majesty." "Ben- 
net " "Bride" and "Beauty;" new born heirs of 
greater promise, for a time, have stayed her totter- 
ing throne, but coronets are made of smiles and 
exile is but a frown. 

Dianthus is the coming flower. Its salvos are 
heard among the to-morrows. It contains imprison- 
ed with its mystic life force the fluw of wonderful 
evolvement Its marvelous nature ever responds to 
the magic touch of the Florist's art. It is ever 
abrea'>t with the progress of the ages. Thirty years 
ago a new and nobler race came trooping into light. 
Every year new specimens of greater excellence 
make an advance in its mighty march of grandeur; 
to-day fifty rain-bow petals nestle around its anthers. 
Its other name is Evolution. 

When will these transformations of incieasing 
beauty cease ? When the Dynasty of Rosaceae is 
deposed, and Caryophyllaceae, sits, transfigured, on 
the Throne of Flora, as the world's first love. 

'Divine Flower. 



The exact size of "SEA 
GULL" that took the Silver Fla- f^^^^ 

^on Prize, at Madison Square O^"^ T;^^ 
Exhibition, in New York, in the -"^'^^^f^ 
fall of 189]. ^"^- 




CHAPTER. XXV. 

ROOTIIS^G CUTTINGS. 

^gXPERIENCE has reduced itself to this maxim, viz: A 
good Carnation cutting is in inverse ratio to a devel* 
oped peduncle, cuttings should be rooted at a tempera- 
ture, so low, that it would require three weeks, or more, to do 
it. They can be rooted from Oct. 1st. until April 1st., and it is 
well there is a wide range of time, for a stock, productive of 
flowers, however ample, will not afford a large yield of good 
cuttings at any one time. If a plant or stock of plants yields 
a profusion of cuttings they must be correspondingly un- 
proluctive oE bloom, and the cuttings will partake of this 
fault. Cuttings are taken secondary to the crop o£ bloom, 
if it is desirable to propagate more largely they must be 
primary and the plants disbudded. Cuttings before striking, 
or immediately afterwards, with developed flower stems, are 
comparatively worthless. The best cuttings are obtained 
from the base of the least forced plants. Cuttings should be 
taken chiefly in December and January. Wm. Swayne says 
he gets the best results when struck in March. Chetty says he 
obtained good results and early field bloom from Henzie, 
struck in October. Henderson says incalculable damage is 
done to Carnations by striking them in a high temperature* 
Early stuck cuttings, kept growing by carrying them 
foward into three and four inch pots will materially ad- 
vance the time of bloom,, and thereby popularize Carnations 
as bedding plants for spring sales. 

FERTILIZERS. 

Further experinrtc^ confirms the necessity of avoiding 
all manure in the field, or on the benches unless it is most 



15i CARNATIOK CULTURE. 

thorouglily rotted; partially decomposed manure is positively 
injurious to Carnations. 

Lime, Glround Bone, and well rotted manure are the best 
fertilizers for the field, for the benches Bone and manure 
water. Thorp thinks the benched plants should be stimu- 
lated with manure water at the time the heaviest crops of 
bloom are making their drafts on the life forces of the plants. 

Alfred Whittle and William Brinker, successful Carna- 
tion growers, recommend ashes from wood and burnt sods as 
valuable fertilizers for the benches. Mr. Brinker. avers as an 
experience that wood ashes have the noticeableeffect of inten- 
sifying the respective colors of Carnation flowers. Foreign 
agents, it has long been known, has marked eflect upon the 
color of flowers, as is especially seen in the Hydrangea bloom. 

FIELD SOIL FOR CARNATIONS. 

should be of a clayey nature, well enriched and pulverized, 
with a porous sub-3oil or underdrained. For the roots of Car- 
nations to "ramhle/' as one writer puts it, in a rich sandy 
soil is to induce that condition of development described 
under the head of ''large plants'' which above all things 
is to be avoided. 

temperature for CARNATIONS. 

For continuous bloom and healthy plants on the benches 
from October until July, the night temperature should be 
about 45 degrees and the day temperature some 20 degrees 
higher. The Florist may be enabled to realize more out of 
his crop, if he can obtain the bulk of the bloom earlier in the 
season, or on stated occasions, when both the day and night 
temperature can be raised some twenty degrees, but any 
temperature materially higher than the ones first mentioned, 
will be at the expense of the season's run of bloom. It is 
however true that it is the nature of some varieties to revel 
in a temperature that would be positively injurious to other 
kinds. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 155 

But the artificial conditions of plant life are so easily 
varied, and slight variations so telling in results, that two 
Florists side by side and aiming at a common treatment 
for their respective houses would hardly reach precisely the 
same condition of crop, and no treatise however accurate 
and particular in detail, can supplement a want of exacting 
care and a high degres of discriminating intelligence on the 
part of the Florist. 

ROTATING CARNATIONS. 

If trouble besets a Carnation crop on ground in which 
they have been repeatedly grown, suspicion is aroused that a 
repetition of the crop on the same soil may be the cause. 

This is often important to the Forist, not but there are 
ample lands to rotate the small area of land required for this 
crop, but it may not be in condition, or under his control, or 
quite remote from his glass. 

Rotating crops is a rational and well established prac- 
tice in Agriculture, and every Physiological and Chemical 
principle relating to plant life makes the theory and practice 
equally applicable to Horticulture. But the comparative 
small space of land required to summer grow this crop makes 
it possible, annually, to quite fully restore all the elements 
taken from the ground by the crop, if we knew what they 
were. Lime is believed to be one of the chief ingredients 
most largely exhausted by a Carnation crop, and must be 
artificially supplied, in case of continuous culture. Two 
cases are reported where Carnations have been continuously 
grown on the same ground on which Lime was used, for ten 
consecutive years without disease or apparent deterioration 
of the plants. The Carnation industry is comparatively 
new. The Author bought of the first four Carnations cata- 
logued for sale in America, so it is not strange if there are va- 
rying theories and practices in their culture, but there can be 



156 CARN'ATIOK' CULTURE. 

but one set of continuous conditions best suited to their 
health and highest floressence, to know and supply these con- 
ditions is perfect Carnation culture, hitherward an intelli- 
gent experience tends. 

HEADING-IN CARNATIONS. 

All the heading-in or "pruning" a Carnation plant needs 
is to pinch off the bud, between the thumb and fore-finger, 
when the stem lifts it well above the foliage. This rule 
applies to Carnations in all conditions whether m the cutting 
bench, boxes, pots, or field, if in the field it should be done 
with reference to the time the bloom of the plant can b^ 
utilized, it is considered, that disbudding plants in the field 
delays much further bloom about twenty days. 

By delaying heading-in, until this time, the least damage 
will be done the plant, and lateral branches are sooner ob- 
tained. A Carnation plant from a proper cutting is not 
hasty in showing a bud, if the peduncle runs quickly up, 
crowned with a bud, you have a worthless plant from a 
bastard cutting. From the "cradle to the gr'^ve," no Carna- 
tion plant should be mutilated by cutting ofi" its branches, 
pulling out the heart of the main, stem or leaf pruning, and 
if practiced is simply criminal plant surgery. 

There are but two reasons for ever wantonly wounding 
the smallest leaf of a Carnation plant, viz: to induce laterals, 
and conserve vital force. It is the gluctin, sugar, starch, 
&c., elaborated by the vital chemistry of the plant and 
deposited in the ovules, or seed (food for embryo plants) that 
is exhaustive of its vital forces, it is not thf? petal, or corolla, 
or any other botnnical part of the bud or flower, for they are 
all modified leaves of ihe pbmt nnd io an pxtent perform 
healthful functions iti the plant's economy. 

The marvellous flowering capacity of the double floweiing 
plants of to-day is owing to their being largely unproductive 



CARNATION CULTURE. 157 

of seeds, and therefore vital force is conserved. Secondary to 
cut bloom, I have never been able to obtain an ounce of good 
seed, in a season, from twenty thousand Carna'ion p'ants. 
The Carnation grower need not be frightened at the 
appearance of a few buds on his field plants, and that they 
will fritter away all their I lotaning energies. Henzie is 
being restored lo confidence as a profitable blooming variety 
by a system of treatment first recommended by us four years 
ago, viz: tiiat it should never be disbudded in the field. 

Cutting off the leaves, pulling out the hearts of the 
stems of the s-mall plants has precisely the same effect on the 
plant as cutting off a pro[)Ortional quantity of their roots. 

There is a perfect (quilibrium in the absorbing capacity 
of a ipilani below the ground surface, and its exhaling capacity 
above the ground surface. The destruction of half of its 
lungs or exhaling organs discharges from service half of its 
feeding or absorbing (»rgans. 

Every Florist knows he can carry the plants from which 
he cuts his stock, back inro smaller pots. A plant or tree, 
top pruned can be equally artificially root pruned and if it is 
not so done nature will do it, to preserve the balance. 

Wonderful miniature fruit and forest trees are grown by 
the Chinese by a system of root pruning, the top geometri- 
cally proportioning its littleness to the pruned roots, so will 
the roots precisely proportion themselves to the pruned top. 

In annuals and perennials, the damage arising from the 
distinction of the balance between foj) and bottom^ is by 
their natures more easily repaired than their case with 
biennials. 

The roots of biennials perforin a different or an addi- 
tional duty than do the roots of the other classes, viz: the 
storage in the system of the plants all the elements requir- 
ed for its full fruition the following season. 



158 CARNATION CULTURE. 

In the two first classes the stimulus of perpetuating 
of spiece is immediate, in the other continuous, and in the 
last class its hope is with the coming season. 

The Carnation is a biennial, its life in the field is the 
first year of its existence, its life under glass corresponds 
with its second season, or winter, its intervening dormant 
state is dispensed with, rnd its life forces made to act con- 
tinuously by the witchery of the Florist's art. 

When it is understood how vital and Uborious are the 

functions of the roots of a biennial t\\Q first season, it will be 

very clear how the least interference with them by top 

pruning must be irreparable, damaging to their be^t state 

the second season, and with Carnations that are on the 
benches. 

LARGE PLANTS. 

The floressence of all plants is in inverse ratio to the 
life forces being expended on a rank growth of foliage and 
stems. Experience now points a preference for a medium 
sized plant with good roots, fine form and well ripened 
shoots, as a model Carnation plant, which when transferred 
to the bench will yield the most bloom. The great desire 
has been to have large plants for lifting, this is changed: 
size is not the measure of a pUnt's flowering capacii}-. A 
large succulent growing Caruation in the field, if successfulh^ 
transplanted will be a rampant grower on the bench, occupy- 
ing the room of several medium size plants with ripened 
shoots. In the ratio that a Carnation has a large and watery 
growth of stems and leaves will it be barren of flowers. 
Many say their Carnations look large and healthy but do 
not bloom well. t:'nowden the most prolific bloomer 
commonly, is often complained of. 

Thos. Seal says ''a whole b^^d may become barr« n in time^ 
by taking cuttings indiscriminately, a portion from plants 



CARNATION CULTURE. 159 

that have no flowers, such plants grow enormously, and 
pioduce man}' cuttii'gs all of which will prove unproduc- 
tive, productive parents produce but tew cuttings, this 
way in a few years the whole stock will become unproductive 
of auything but foliage and s.tem<." 

An unnatural growth of stems and foliage is followed 
by a loss of power to continue the specie by seeding, and is 
a di>ease, as is an unusual deposit of fatty matter, and con- 
st quent barrenness in an animal. 

EARLY LIFTING. 

The best average experience of American growers is 
epitomized in the following words of a correspondent: "I 
favor lifting from the 1st. to 15th. of September and pre- 
fer dry weather for it. I find plants take bttter lifted in dry 
weather, they seem to stand more in need of the w ater 
given them when planted on benches, and wilt less than those 
taken from wet soil and blight less, make liner flowers and 
bloom longer and better." The philosophy of early lifting 
and from a dry soil is, that in the cool wet weather of fall 
Carnations make a rapid succulent growth, after this growth 
when planted on drained benches and subjected to a dryer 
and warmer atmosphere (>f the house, the plant must re- 
ceive a greater shock than would have occurred had it been 
lifted before this rank fall growth had been made. 

All plants lifted in early fall have better ripened 
shoots, and a less watery nature, the balance of exhaling and 
absorbing forces is less disturbed by such lifting, and if 
lifted from a dry soil the plants might be said to be thirsty 
and will rapidly drink the water given them, and the ab- 
sorbing force will predominate, therefore less wilting, blast- 
ing buds, an easier transition to their new conditions, better 
flowers and longer life, because of less violence to the consti- 
tution of the plant. 



160 CARNATION CULTURE. 

One grower writes: ''Early lifting obviates the dying 
of the leaves around the base of the plant, a source of annoy- 
ance v^^ith some varieties." 

It would be narrow to state a specific time for lifting in 
the widely varied climate of America. The rule for ''early 
lifting'' \s, as distensible as the climate. It is before the 
life activities of the plant are materially increased by that 
cool damp weather of fall, common to all sections. 

LIFTING WITHOUT EARTH 

to the roots is established by experience as practical and suc- 
cessful. It is a wonderful labor saving innovation on old 
methods. Carnations should be lifted with the least possible 
damage to the roots, and planted quickly after being lifted, 
(if the dry weather system is adopted.) 

It is the nature of Carnation roots to tenaciously adhere 
to particles of earth which is quite sufficient This mode 
reduces the labor of lifting and carrying Carnations, one-half 
over the old "ball to the root system." And at the end of the 
Carnation season in turning the earth on the benches the oM 
balls have to be picked and carried out, in handling twenty 
thousand plants they amounted to wagon loads. J. C. 
Chambers of Penna. says: "When plants have been growing 
in a soil of a clayish nature, special care should be taken to 
lift with as little dirt as possible, balls of this kind of earth 
will become hard on the bench, interfere with watering and 
damage the plant. From loauiy soil I experience no advan- 
tao-e in retaining dirt with the roots." Brown of Mi. higan, 
and Swayneof Pennsylvania, lift carefully without balls and 
stand the plants in tubs in which there is water, and they are 
thus conveyed, or carried to the houses for replanting; 
when planted they should be well wet and shaded for six or 
eight days. The leaves of a plant do not abso'-b moisture 



CARNATIOX CULTURE. 161 

as is supposed, but shade and moisture stops exhalations by 
closing the stomata or mouths of exhaling vesels in the 
leaves. Whiting is suitable for this purpose and will shade 
till the first rain, or it can be made more adhesive by add- 
ing lime-water. 

DEPTH OF BENCH SOIL. 

The depth of bench soil now used in growing Carna- 
tions varies among growers from 2i to 8 inches. It should 
not exc-^ed 1 inches in depth, and some critical growers of 
this flower say 3 inches is the best depth, A.11 earth on the 
benches m'>re than sufiicient to obtain the best possible crop 
results is a useless handling of dirt, and weighting of 
benches. Advocates of deep bench soil say it saves water, 
and watering, and secures a more uniform root moisture. 

Advocates of shallow bench earth reply Carnations, nor 
other plants, want a uniform root mo'sture, but a moisture 
alternating with dryness, if it saves water it is at theexpense 
of the health of the plants, it is indusive of a sour and soggy 
condition of the earth, at which the Carnation sensitively 
revolts. 

It is the cau^e of what is known as ''root rot," Car- 
nations root but little after being benched, and but little 
soil is required; absolute control is obtained over the 
degree of bench moisture, and if uioyq fr eg lie nt watering is 
required, it is an evidence the plants are actively respond- 
ing to their best artificial conditions. 

There is no doubt by avoiding all unnecessary 
bench earth secures conditions, and a course of treatment in 
full harmony with the nature of the Carnation and the 
evolvement of its highest floral possibilities. 

GLADIOLI WITH CARNATIONS . 

Carnation growers look to the cut flowers of their 
benches for their profits, anything that will increase the 



162 CARNATION CULTURE. 

product of their bench is a matter of interest to them. The 
new hybred Gladioli bulbs force well, and can be interspersed 
through a bed of Carnations on a middle bench, and will 
produce magnificent spikes of very salable flowers without 
visibly interfering with the Carnation crop. 

HEATING CARNATION HOUSES. 

The whole matter of heating by Steam or Hot Water, 
as to economy and covenience, has crystalized itself, with 
me, into this: Hot water heating is the cheapest and best up 
to a certain area of glass, beyond which Steam is preferable 
and the most economical. 

The amount of glass surface that constitntes the passing 
point from Hot Water to Steam is not so definitely determin- 
ed. W. R. Shelmire of Avondale Pa., says: ''We use a wa- 
ter back made of inch pipe in our flues which runs double for 
16 feet through the brick flue near the furnace, and connects 
at the other end of the house with a small tank. A coil is 
placed in the flue which can have as many turns as is 
thought best and the returns ran directly from the water 
tank to the bottom of the water back in the flue; with this 
arrangement I have no inclination to change to Water or 
Steam. I heat houses 70 feet long, furnace at one end, per- 
fectly, the temperature at both ends about the same." 

We could name several very successful Carnation grow- 
ers who use cold style flues, and with them meet all the re- 
quirements of a perfect crop of bloom . 

Houses 16 to 18 feet wide and oE convenient length, 
are decidedly the best for Carnations, and contrary to theory 
in proportion to the surface obtained, much more economi- 
cally heated. 

SHIPPING. 

Neat Baskets of all sizes are now so cheaply procured, 
that many Carnation shippers are substituting them for 



C'AKNATIUN CULTURE. 163 

boxes. The B jskets are lined and the contents covered 
with firm paper, the hitter snugly tied around the basket 
with the Florist's name on the top. It is claimed the light- 
ness, neatness and convenience of the package secures for it 
greater care in transit than a box would get. If the hand- 
ling conveniences of Bask-ts at both ends of the route is. 
added, they are certainly a valuable substitute ^or boxes, ex- 
cept in long distances and great danger from cold. 

AMATKUK CARNATION GROWERS 

should obtain earlu stuck cuttings of early blooming kinds, 
and plant them out early in the spring, a foot apart each 
way, cultivate and water well, and they will begin to bloom 
in June. Before frost lift carefully into well drained pots, 
keep them cool and shaded for a week, and they will con- 
tinue to bloom through the winter. 

NEW CARNATIONS. 

\/hen they reach the level of their true existence are 
modified from the Seedling Plants for better or worse, I 
think more f requen tly for the better. 

WIRE 

the whole length of the bench can be neatly used in lieu of 
stakes, and against the rafters over side benches to prevent 
the buds from freezing to the glass. 

BULBLETS 

of the Calla can be grown to blooming size just under and 
along the edges of Carnation benches, very close to the 
pipes, without inconvenience; also some varieties of Ferns 
and Begonias. 

CARNATION FLOWERS 

can be obtained under adverse circumstances and by unneces- 
sary methods. But the Grower that has come to stay seeks 
the finest results, by the neatest, least laborious and most 
inexpensive methods. 



16^ CARNATIOi^ CULTURE. 

PRICE OF CARNATION FLOWERS. 

The price of Carnation flowers has been adv^^ncing for 
the last three years. The maximum and minimum whoUsale 
rates for 1889-90 has been $20 to |50 per M. 

A general complaint of a fruitful crop exists this sea- 
son, a larger per cent, than usual, of plants have died on the 
benches, and a reduced floressence of those that have lived. 
A very general correspondence inviting opinions as to the 
cause, has elicited the belief that it is owing to a wet season 
and insufficient underdraining in the field. 

DIANTHUS. 

The first Dianthus flowers were of a flesh color, hence 
the name "Carnation" was given them, meaning "flesh 
color." Were it possible to change the custom, a prettier 
and more proper name for both plant and flower would be 
Dianthus Plant, Dianthus Cuttings, Crimson, White or 
Pink Dianthus Flowers, etc. 



LIST OF NEW CARNATIONS 

Since tbe spring: of 1886, in addition to tlie list 
commencing: on pag^e 133. 



^WHIXHCI^ASS. 

King Dianthus. (creigtiton.) Large pure white, very full and fra- 
grant, of great promise, (not on the market until spring of 
1892.) 

Puritan, (wood bros.) White, early, good Bloomer of promising 

merit. 
White Gem. (buxton,) Large white on long stems, fringed, a vigorous 

grower . 

Silver Spray, (simmons.) White, early and free bloomer, good size, 
branching habit. 

The Bride (yalby.) White, fringed and fragrant, good habit, early 
and continuous bloomer. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 165 

White Coronet, (creighton.) Great substance and good habit. 
Fishkill . (wood bkos . ) White of unequaled purity, long stems . 
Mrs. Fisher, (fisheu.) Large white. 
IVIrs. Harrison, (dokxeh.) White, of good substance. 

SCARI^fiX CLASS. 

Mrs.'B. Harrison. (i.ARKiN.) Scarlet, mottled with maroon, long 
stems. 

Lucia. [timme.J Type of (Tartield. 

Unique, [dillon.] A sport from '"Lydia flower. " Large, on long 

stems, never bursts. Color, Dark magneta, shaded and streaked with 

Carmine and light Pink. Free Bloomer, strong and vigorous. 

PIP>iK CLASS. 

Marggie Lamborn. An intensified -'Dawn,'' base of petals, a deep car- 
mine shading to a pure wb ite . 

Grace Darling, [chambers.] Good habit, long stems, early and pro- 
fuse bloomiT, exquisite pink color. 
W. E. Roland. [craig.J Pink color, profuse late bloomer. 

Tidal Wave, [fisher.] Cherry pmk, good size, compact, vigorous 
habit. 

Morning Ray. [larkin.] Dazzling pink, early bloomer and good habit. 
Christiana, [starr.] Pink color, darker than Wilder. 
W. F. Dreer. [starr.] Strong grower, a beautiful large carmine pink. 
Fred Creighton. [creighton.] Large, does not burst, a pure pink 
shade as Wilder. 

Peach Blossom, [creighton.] Color bright peach blossom. 

Ben. Hur. (dorner.) Blush pink. 

Maiden Blush, (wood bros.) White ground suifused with pink. 

lantha. (burrow.) Of Joliff and Mangoldshade, but larger and fuller. 

YEI^I^OW^ CI.ASS. 

Cora Collins, (briisker.) Pure lemon yellow, as large and full as the 
Henzie, of which it is a sport, and has all its qualities. 

Starlight, (hancock.) Light yellow, large on long stems, free and 
early . 

J. B. Taquier. (imported, zingiebel.) Yellow on long stems, dwarf, 
healthy habit. 

Golden Gate, (starr.) Deep yellow, free, full and double, a good 
grower. 



166 CARNATION CULTURE. 

CRIMSOPi CLASS. 

Coronet, (ckeighton.) Crimson, large, free and fringed, early 

and continuous . 
Elmont. (kirk.) Larg-e rich crimson, free and vigorous grower. 

Pride of Kennett. (swayne.) Fine form, larg-e, rich crimson, good 

grower . 
Lady Rachel. (la.ijkin.) Dark saffroned, long stems, early and vigorous. 

Miss E. L. Taplin. (bukkow.) Velvet crimson, blooms large, strong 

grower . 
Freeman, (stahr.) Violet crimson, very sweet scented. 

^WHIXE- VARIEGATED CLASS. 

Amy. (larkin.) White, slightly edged with carmine, long stems, 
vigorous grower. 

Volunteer, (kirk.) White, striped with rose, fringed, compact grower. 

YELLOl^-VARIEGAXEO CLASS. 

Eastern Queen, {wood bros.) Of the "Sunrise" type, shade lighter, 
considered better by the originators . 

Motor. (sTARR.) Orange and carmine, mottled. 



The following are sv^inging around the circle: Mrs. 
Keen, McKenzie, Silver Lake, Germania, Mrs. Holmes, 
Mable, Orient, Maud Grainger, West End, Clifton, McGowan, 
Geneva, Charmer, Delicata, Maggie, etc. 

All imported Carnations can be looked on with distrust, 
they have not held their own with native kind. Such ex- 
cellence is now attained with home varieties that it is hard 
to break the record. There is money and a name for the 
man that will do it. 

The new Carnations without a sponsor can safely be let 
alone, as being without distinctive merit. The multiplicity 
of Carnations is confusing to both the Amateur and Profes- 
sional grower. None should be regarded as meritorious, at 
least without the name of the originator as a guarantee for 
its merits. Even with this assurance second and third rate 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



167 



CarnatioDS are foisted, iiinocentl}^ on the market to the 
detriment of purchasers. 

The superiority of no new Carnation can be, determined 
only by close and .actual growing comparison with the , best 
existing standard kinds of its class. This test not being in 
the reach of the originators of seedlings they are apt to 
innocently and vainly think that their respective bantlings 
are the best in the world. We have grown 200 different varie- 
ties of Carnations for comparative purposes, and receive the 
bloom of most of the new seedlings, and have destroyed fond 
hopes by returning a vastly superior bloom of the same class 
of an existing standard l^ind. 

In this work we have listed about all the named Carna- 
tions that have ever appeared in America. From three to 
six of each of the seven classes would embrace the leading 
varieties now cultivated. , 




CHAPTER XXVI. 

LIFE IN CELLS. 

iUT of ten men, nine are satisfied with the proximate 
fact that a Carnation grows and blooms; the tenth 
^^£5 asks how and why. He wants to know the 
remote cause. 

It isforthe*'How"and''Why" man I write this chapter. 

The origin and essence of Lif^ has ever eluded the 
philosophy of the past, and modern scientists have abandon- 
ed as useless a search after this hidden mystery, and con- 
fine themselves to studying the phenomena of Life. 

There is no spontaniety in Life, it is always dependent on an- 
tecedent Life, and sprang from a common original 
srerm, and its existence is coeval with the creative fiat. All 
Life is related, and its essence is the same, whetht^r found in 
the simplesfc and weakest vegetable form, or in the highest 
and most complex animal organisms, its structural range 
is from the mould on an old shoe, to the brain of a god-like 

Webster. 

Life admits of no evolution, it is as perfect in the pro- 
toplasm as in the highest concrete, but its methods are to 
evolve the most perfect complex structural form, out of the 

simplest cells. 

It is an attribute of Life to ever strive, in vegetable aud 

animal organizations to reach the composite and the perfect 
by the gateway of the simple and the plain. Life is the 
co-relative of Death, two uiighty forces ever playing a start- 
ling drama, with the globe's surface for a theatre. 



CARNATION CULTURE. l(3i> 

Life Iniilding, organizing ami combining elements: 
Death seeking to destroy, disorganize and dissolve them. 

In these contests Life yields first its weakest structures, 
and retreating to its strongest organisms, survives in the 
finest to live and strongest to beget. 

It is impossible to develop an embryo plant in a seed 
without the conduct of ihe pollen or male element, or pro- 
pagate Life in any of its multitudnious forms of existence 
without the correlation of sexes. 

When an ovule, or unripened seed is fertilized, a new cell 
is formed in it of spherical shape, unless moditied by lateral 
pressure. 

It is about the one thousandth of an inch in diameter 
and tilled with protoplasm, a protean compound, the walls of 
the cell is a corbo-hydrate. 

The male and female forces meet on the stigma of the 
Hower, which conveys through its filaments to this cell in the 
seed the marvelous in effects as fecundation. 

Life's first home in the new plant is in this primal micro- 
scopic cell. Th:s cell is an embryo plant of itself con. 
taining the forces of nutrition, growth and reproduction. 

Moisture and warmth are essential to germination, 
which is the growth of that cell in that seed, the seed lobes 
swell by the absorption of moisture and the sugar and dex- 
trine of which they are composed is dissolved by the water 
into liquid nourishment for the cell, this food entering the 
cell by transfusion through its permeable walls. 

This prime cell, instinct with Life, thus enforced with 
food, is enabled to start new cells outside of, but adhering to 
its walls, it reproduces by imparting to each new cell thus 
formed the power to vivify each other new cell having birth 
adjacent to these walls, and the growth of the embryo plant 
is the result of the multiplication of that primitive cell, and 



170 CARNATION CULTURE. 

the rapid geometrical increase of cells, each animated with 
the occult essence of reproductive Life, is the method of a 
plant's unfoldment. 

The aggregatioa of cells forms cellular tissue, as is 
found in the pulpy portions of the leaf and soft parts of the 
plant. 

The woody part of a plant was primarily cellular tissue, 
but its need of a stiffening; support, compressed the cell wal!s 
against each other and they hardened into wood from a di- 
minished flow of sap. 

The human mind can form no c nception of Life only 
through its manifestations in vegetable and animal econo- 
mies. It can be known only as the presiding genus of organ- 
isms; the divinity of structures, beyond its phenomena 
human inquiry can never reach. 

It is a law of Life for prmiitive cell growth to flrst out- 
line the ora^an most concerned in the structure's existence. 

In a plant this is the leaf, the apparent complex organs 
of an adult plant are but modifications of this primal mould, 
the roots, stem, calyx, petals, stamens and pestils are but 
differentiated leaves. 

Superficially a plant is a complex organism, profoundlv, 
it is very simple. 

Cell births are most active in the parts of the plant con- 
cerned in the perpetuation ot: its Life, the radix and plumile 
are the first to lengthen in germination and capilliary tubes 
for sap circulation through them are formed by the break- 
ing down of intervening cell walls. 

Until the plant can draw crude sap from the earth, and 
elaborate it, with its leaves, it is fed with the digested food 
in the cotyledons, stored there by the supreme effort of the 
parent plant to bridge the chasm between, what to it, is the 
hither and thither world . 



CARNATION CULTUKE. ITL 

Life is in the cells and its law is through these units. 

A law of Life is structural betterment, and when a plane 
of betterment is reached, to maintain it through the law of 
like bt^getments. 

Life springing from primal germ has a colfinion relation- 
ship, notwithstanding its present multiplications, and seem- 
ingly diverse manifestations. 

All vafieties in the animal and vegetable kiiigfloms, are 
but difterent planes of organized progress, order, genera and 
classes are only difterent degrees of plant divelopment, 
which may become so diiferent and fixed that they will not 
even cross with each other. 

Life cells are ever multiplying in the protoplasm of the 
world's womb, and starting through the eternities on their 
unrolling race. The Carnation as a product of the immeasur- 
able past, its strain of Life after billions of years and bil- 
lions of structural improvements may perfect a nerve home 
for an intelligencfC, ascent is the law, but descent will occur 
with unfavorable environments. 

Through countless ages Life has been multiplying organs 
and perfecting tissues, when successive planes of excellence 
have been reached there has followed the phenomena of 
growth, reproduction, sensibility, will, memory and wisdom. 

The highest known structural perfectibility is the human 
brain, though this wondrous organism anew entity is made 
manifest. 

It has taken ages of Life ettbrt to evolve the brain, its 
cell structure comprises the gathered betterments of all 
cycles of time, it is monumentally majestic as the present 

culmination of God's grand method of physical unfoldment, 
through this structure the Soul nhenomena is studied. It is 
there enthroned, striving for an eden-felicity, aspiring to im- 
mortality and grasping in its sweep of thought the universe 
of matter and of mind. 



172 CARNATION CULTURE. 

Life and Soul are distinct e/f titles^ e'deh as perfect at crea- 
tions, dawn as they are to day, but the measure of their 
manifestations is in the ratio of the perfecti- 
bility of the stractiire; for untold ages of the 
world's being, the latter was so low that Soul was' 
not manifest at all. Structural perfection will continue 
in the mighty future to tJiiii the pirtition between 
this and the other world, until confines are broken down and 
the dividing waters are ever sliadowed by going and 
"returning sails." 

A plant absorbs and exhales and through these processes 
growth by cells is evolved. 

All plants absorb food from the earth in liquid form, the 
iron, sulphur, sodium, lime, etc, found in the f)lant are held 
insolation in the water that comes in contact with its roots, 
the ash or inorganic p a*ts of a plant is from 1 to 8 per cent 
of its weight, while the volatile or organic parts amount to 
from 92 to lili per cent. 

A vegetable burned resolves itself into air excepting its 
ash, showing it is chiefly compose 1 of compounds of oxygen, 
hydroi^en, carbon and nitroo:en. 

The crude alimentary elements are carried from the 
roots, through the stem of the plant by capilliary tubes, or 
cell transfusion, to the leaves to be elaborated by these organs 
and adapted to cell growth. 

The leaf of a plant consists of a skeleton oi woody 
frame work to maintain expanse of surface, intervening is a 
soft cellular tissue, on the cuticle, of which there are innum- 
erable stomata, or mouths, which correspond to the opening 
to the lungs of an animal. It is estimated that the number 
of stomata is3().00() to a square inch of leaf surface. 

Through these mouths an immense quantity of watery 
vapor and gases are exhaled, carbonic acid gas of the air 



CARNATION CULTURE. 173 

enters through these openings, and is decomposed by chlo- 
ryphie or leaf green, and the carbon fixed in the structure 
and the oxygen set free and exhaled, this process is the re- 
verse of what takes place in animals; with them oxygen is 
appropriated by the lungs and carbonic acid gas set free. 

A man requires 250 square feet of air per hour, to fur- 
nish him a supply of oxygen, a plant a proportionate amount 
to supply it with carbonic acid gas. 

The hir cells in the lungs of a man, over the walls of 
wtiich his bloo<i is distributed for aireation, forms a super- 
ficial area of 1-100 squart feet, while the juices or sap of a 
plant is spread over the walls of cells, fifty times gi^ater than 
the apparent leaf surface. 

Sunlight opens the stomata or pores in the leaf of a 
plant, darkness and moisture closes them, warmth and dark- 
ne>s promotes evaporation, while cold and moisture 
check it. 

Leaves never absorb water, but water sprinkled over a 
flagging plant closes the stomata, and stops evaporation and 
the plant revives by its system being filled with sap absorbed 
by the roots, so, darkness closes these doors, and in the morn- 
ing plants are bright and tinged with juices; darkness is 
fatal to the formation of the green color, this chloryphie in 
the cuticle of the leaf discharges an important function in 
fixing carbon, and it requires sun light to do it, artificial 
light has no effect. 

A plant has no heart to pump a circulation through its 
system, the transmission of juices throughout its economy is 
effected by chemical and mechanical forces independent, cli- 
rectly, of Life. 

The evaporation of sap from tne leaf surface in propor- 
tion as the exhaustion of the air behind the circulation if per- 
fect it represents a draining force from the roots of fifteen 



17J: CARNATION CULTURE. 

pounds to the sqa ire iacli. Capillary attraction uses flues 
or a^ceni smiU tabe^ independent oi: an atmospheric pres- 
sure. Endosmo-es and exosmoses transfers fluids from one 
sack or cell to another cell or sack, through their permeable 
walls and equalizes the density of i he contents of all the 
cells into a homogenous constancy. 

It is a law of Life to divert active cell growth to repair a 
creation or fortify ^gaii.st dissolution. A Carnation cutting 
(^or any other cutting) embeds hundreds of cells, each per- 
vaded with Life, the cutting is planted in wet sand to hold 
it uptight, and retain moisture and is fre^^ from damaging 
impurities^ The cutting is shaded and sprayed, to close the 
stoinata, and stop evaporrttion, the- cut surface is soon 
covered with caloused cells, which build one on the end of 
the other, and are thus rapidly elongated into roots. 

When growth is reached in an annual or biennial plant 
Life begins to feel impending death, cell growth becomes ac- 
tive to continue specie, and is directed to floressence and seed- 
ing. 

The abortive elibrtsof double flowers to vitalize seed in- 
creases venereal activities and multi]>lies a succession of 

bloom. 

Health in an animal is physical unconsciousness, in a 

plant it is the active correlation of Life and nature's forces. 

Some of nature's force^ are as follows: 

It is heat and warmth that awake the dormant life in a 
seed, it is warmth that converts, and water that dissolves the 
sugar and gluten in the cottynons of Life's first food. Heat, 
attraction and transfusion circulate Life's juices. 

Warmth and light stir Life's pulses to activity. Dark- 
ness and moisture quiet them to rest. 

Air elaborates Life's blood. Chemical laws decompose 
carbonic acid gas and fixes the carbon in the plant and elim- 
inates the ox3^gen. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 175 

Nature dissolves the minerals in water, heat turns that 
water into vapor, and lime, iron iodine etc, is lodged as seda- 
mentary bones in the plaut's system. 

Dr^'ness flattens the cells into a wood}^ support for the 
plant. 

liees vitalize the ovules by dusting the stigma with 
pollen from the anthers. 

Sunlight hues the petals and paints the leaves. 
So in the economy of a plant, Life performs but an es- 
sential little, but its health is the active and natural response 
of these two forces. 

Benches start at the nodes, or joints, at which points cir- 
culation by cell transfusion must b^" rapid and confused from_ 
diverging currents, this complexity of inter cell communion 
diiferntly compounds the chemical sensitizing elements of the 
petals of the flower of the branch, and the sun will paint an- 
other color from the flower of the lenial parent stem. When 
this branch is propagated frcm, and the color becomes perma- 
nent, it is called a ''Sport.'' 

The petals of all plants are pure white when they receive 
their sensitizing bath of nitrates, in the d;irk closet of the 
cnlyx, which at the proper moment opens its valves and 
exposes them to the camera of the sun, and they are in- 
stantly colored. Shaded, flaked, or penciled as life's forces 
have distributed and combined in them, the sensitive chemical 
agents to respond to mystic sunlight. 

When plant life buds a love ditty, nature photographs a 
flower. 

This inquiry into some of the phenomena of Life has 
been on a line of vegetable organization of which the Carna- 
tion is a type. The Carnation is a biennial^ which signifies 
its natural Life embraces two seasons with an intervening 
period of winter rest. 



lit) CARNATION CULTURE. 

^iinuals^ Biennials and Perennials are convertable 
plant characters by climatic iDfluences. 

When the character of a Biennial is well defined and 
unmodified by manipulation, Life in it makes no effort to 
propagate itself the first season, but Life's forces are almost 
intelligently at work for this end, the second season, its labors 
are to ripen and uidture a structural organization to with- 
stand the low temperature of winter and fully prepare it for 
the responsibilities of patt^rnity, this is chiefly done by 
storing its cellular system and interstitial places with all the 
food elements, in a concentrated form, for fructification, 
when its winter is over. 

An hibernating animal, before its winter sleep, grows 
enormously fat by the deposit of surplus adipose matter in 
its cellular tissue, which is taken up by a system of absorb- 
ing vessels to meet the needs of the animal, and it comes out 
poor in the spring. 

A Biennial is a hibernating plant, its cells are filled (in 
season) with starch, sugar dextrine, gluten, etc, in a solidified 
form before its dormant period, and when possessed of firm- 
ness thus given, it is said to be a ''ripened plant." This sur- 
plus nutrinieat is gr,idually dissolved by the watery circula- 
tion of the plant as its needs require, and is the chief sup- 
port of floressence in Carnations on the benches. 

A high temperature in a Carnation house increases evap- 
oration from the leaves and hastens the circulation, and tnis 
store of nutriment is more quickly dissolved and consumed, 
and such plants fail in floressence sooner in the season than 
if they had been subjected to a lower temperature. 

A watery growth in a Carnation dissolves and diverts celj 
deposit to growth, hence a succulent Carnation plant goes 
into winter quarters without this reserve food force for flow- 
ers, and is comparatively worthless. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 177 

Biennials excel annuals or perennials in profusion of 
bloom and the doubleness of their corollas. 

A Ca. nation plant that 3^ields 100 blooms of 50 petals, 
each averaging ^ inch of surface, will cell weave in a single 
season, sixteen square feet of petal canvas, all perfumed and 
sensitized by Life's photogrophy, and ready to be painted by 
nature's Raphael, with sunbeams from his brush. 

Some mysterious features relating to cultivating the 
Carnation is explained by its Biennial character. 

A Carnation plant can he lifted in the fall, full of buds, 
without earth to the roots, and if treated properly will not 
flag or even blast its buds, while with favoring conditions 
and all skill a perennial rose cannot be so lifted without 
dropping its foliage and sulking for a couple of months, nor 
can annuals be successfully lifted under the same con- 
ditions. 

It is because the Carnation is a biennial, the life's labor 
of the plant, for the year is about over, its duties are chiefly 
performed, life's activities are lessening and the coma of its 
wititer is fast coming on, its system is a store house filled 
with all the rich and elaborated materials necessary to fruct- 
ify its seed and propagate its species the following season. 

A man lives and yearns for immortality, a plant grows 
and blooms to shun oblivion; this is the only end and aim 
of any plant's existence. 

A flower is the heat of a plant's passion, it paints its 
colors and distills its nectar to cajole the Bees to revelry, and 
dust its stigma with the pollen of love, that it may beget 
new Life, and live again in vital seeds. To fructify, is to 
enact creation's wonder; it rounds the cycle of a plant's ex- 
istence, and the flower dies to a sensuous melody intoned by 
hummino- winss. 



178 CARi^ATION CULTURE. 

Some believe plant Life in its home of cells, can feel a 
rudimentary thiill of pleasure, 'Hhat it enjoys the air it 
breathes'' and the '^meanest insect dies familiar with the 
sense of grief y 

A Carnation will sustain itself in two inches of bench 
earth and yield ^rand floral results, it is so, chiefly because it 
is a biennial, the wealth of its being was gathered, the first 
season of its existence, the lieavy duties of its roots have been 
performed, they do not further grow, nor need much soil, 
little is left for them to do but to drink the nouiishing wine 
of plant life and sustain a circulation electric with amarous 
activities. 

It has pigments fur colors, gums for odors, corollas for 
canvass, and magic sunlight for pencils; its system is a work- 
shop, its Life an Angelo, mixing perfumes and painting 
glories. 




CHAPTER XXVIL 

THE N^ATIONAL FLOW EK. 

MiiLL Nationalities have their Diviuities of Sentiment, 
S^ their Flags, their Flowers and National Anthems; 
rj^^ dumb Deities but whose pantomimic oratory stir the 
pulse like the blast of a bugle, and make the air electric 
with patriotic feeling. 

America has her Starry Banner, Soaring Eagle, National 
Hymn, but has not yet chosen her Symbol Flower. 

This Flower should be comparatively hardy, of easy culti- 
vation, of lasting qualities when cut, and easily produced 
and acquired in all parts of the country of which it is emble- 
matic. It should be a Flower whose fragrance and grace of 
form would gratify the highest taste, to awaken deepest 
sentiments of love for native land and home. 

It should be a Flower suited to general decoration and 
to personal adornment, and the varieties of which would 
afford different pronounced colors, that political parties, 
processions, societies, delegations and clubs might be easily 
distinguished b}^ the chosen color of t\\Q\r Bouto7iie7'es. 

It should be a Flower that could be readily and pro- 
fusely obtained on all National or State occasions, or when 
ever it was desirable to suggest the sentiments of Patriotism. 

It should be a Flower reverential in name and demo- 
cratic in its associations with the past, and one that reaches 
its grandest unfoldments in the land that selects it as a 
Symbol. 



180 CARKATION CULTURE. 

It should be a Flower whose range of colors would 
weave into expressive emblems of a people patriotism, and of 
their joys, or sorrows. 

In the wide range of Floral Candidates, none has been 
suggested that will compare with the Flowers of the Dian- 
thus genera of plants, in possessing these qualifications. 

DiantJius Barhatus^ or Sweet William, is a perennial, 
crowned with a fiat top cluster of flowers of various colois. 

Diantlius Plumaris, Pheasant eye Piuk, BuLch Pink, 
Cushion Pink, &c., is a hardy perennial, blo( niing early in 
the season, flowers pink and white; single and double. 

Diantlius Clii/iesus, is a biennidl, but flowers the first 
season from seed, aff'ording double and s'ngle flowers of a 
vaiiety of colors. D. Heddiwiggi, D. Lancinatus, D.Dia- 
dematus, D. Quertii, Florist's Pinks, Picotee Pinks and 
Scotch Pinks are sports of the two foregoing kinds. 

Dianthus Cari/ophyllus. or clove scented Pmk, is the 
parent of the grand Carnation of to-day. 

Here are annuals, biennials and perennials of easy 
propagation by seed or division of rooti, yielding their bloom 
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Lakes to the 
Gulf and univer.-ally esteemed by the American people. 

The Carnation Pink is the typical flower of the class to 
symbolize a Nation's Sentiments. Dianthus is derived from 
the Greek word Dio, (divine;) antlilis, (flower;) its name 
associates it with a form of Government that approaches 
nearest to the divine ideal. Dianthus in History is coeval 
with the first eftorts for free government in Greece. Mythol- 
ogy says Dianthus sprang from the blood of rival lovers. 
Jeane Sisley says the matchless specie of Carnations of 
today originated with Allegatieie about the close of our 
civil war. Practical license might almost permit us to say 
they sprang from the blood of rival brothers. Carnations 



CARNATION CULTUKE. 181 

are practically the manor born, no imported plant lives in 
America only long enough to prove its inferiority to native 
kinds. 

Jolilf whose paternity is doubted, is excelled by Mrs. 
Mangold: none of the imported yellows compare with But- 
tercup. We have sent Carnation plants to Lyons, France, 
where Sisley says they originated. America is the climatic 
homeof the. Carnation as England is of the Pansy. Refer- 
ring to pages 4 and 160 of this work, electrotypes taken from 
life, will show the wonderful evolvement of this flower, in 
twenty years under the fostering influence of American en 
vironments. It is a flower that has seven claj-ses of colors. 
White, Pink, Scarlet, Crimson, Yellow, Yellow-Variegated 
and White-Variegated. 

It is of the most lasting nature when cut, and whose 
size, form, and wealth of colors marvellously adapts it to per- 
sonal adornment, civic decorations, or martial displays, 
and by its aggregation the most expressive designs can be 
made illustrative of a people's joy or of their sorrow. 

It is the Floral cosmopolite of the Republic, obtainable 
in large quantities every day in the year. Hundreds of acres 
of glass are devoted to raising this flower in mid-winter to 
gratify the people's adoration for it. It is tacitly the 
National flower today, it has been elected by a people's love, 
and is waiting to be crowned as the Symbol of a people's 
feeling. 

In the days of Leonidas, the Washington of Greece, 
Dianthus had but five petals; it has kept pace with the tread 
of free Government, now within the union of its unbroken 
Calyx more than forty loyal flower-leaves of state are happy 
around their federal anthers. A friend of mine visiting 
Palestine, brought me a Cyclamen bulb from Jerusalem, a 
little earth from Calvary, and a phial of water from Jordan, 



182 CARNATION CULTURE. 

as the bulb grew how marvellously near did it bring the 
memories of the Son of Mary. 

Mind is moved by the simplest agencies. An old Flag 
was lowered at Fort Sumpter and with the lightning flash 
of thought, there rolled on the sea of human mind a wave of 
passion and of patriotism that broke among a million graves. 

The apotheoses of Dianthus as the National Flower, 
well shroud it with the romance of symbolism. Its form 
and color will possess the power as no other flower would to 
stir in the mind strong emotions of love for native land, 
while the sorcery of its perfume will relight dim visions of 
the loyal past that lingers in the weird twilight of memory. 

It will be the embodiment of the spirits of '76, and 
grown in the soil gathered from the graves of Patriots and 
the battlefields for Liberty. 

Its corolla will be an illuminied metaphor of the 4th. of 
July, glowing with rainbow promises of the rights of man 
and freighted with the sacred memories of Mt. Vernon; its 
form will be a living censer swinging its perfume around 
the Altars of a Liberty born at Yorktown, and a Union Saved 
at Appomattox. 





n^l /( 



\ 



CHAPTER XXVITI. 

CAUSE AND CURE OF THE VERSATILE HABITS OF CARNATIONS. 



VERSATILE HABITS. 

Classes, Orders, Genera and Species, of the Botanies are 
but different planes of plant development. Species raay 
be slightly varied by cultivation, but their distinctive 
features will not be wholly lost. 

Races, varieties, and variations, are differences which 
exist in species. Races are striking differences in a species, 
and may be propagated by seed. Varieties are a less im- 
portant distinction than Races and can only be continued 
by cuttings. Variations are still of a slighter difference 
occasioned by heredity, climate, soil, moisture, etc. 

Occasionally a new and an advanced specimen of plant 
life steps to the front of the old ranks and becomes the 
parent of a new species. 

Alegatiere nearly forty years ago by hybridization created 
a new species of carnation possessing qualities differing 
from either of its parents. This species was a new coin- 
age, fresh from the mint, bearing the devise of a new be- 
ing, with the mark of biennialism impressed upon its 
nature. 

It was born amid the rigors common to the fortieth 
degree of north latitude, and possessed comparatively a 
hardy nature, profuse blooming habit, a range of colors, 
and a fragrance of corolla, scarcely equalled by any flower 
that blooms on earth. 

After forty years of existence amid unnatural environ- 
ments and the artificial manipulations of man; this new 
species of plants has become versatile in its habits, and its 
culture variable and uncertain. 

Some varieties will do well for a time and then fail in 
the same hands. Some seasons certain kinds will bloom 



rS4J CARNATrON CITLTXTRE- 

early and profusely, then flower late and sparsely. N'ina 
growers will fail with Buttercup and the tenth man will 
succeed to perfection; a particular kind in one grower's, 
hands flowers continually;^ in another grower's charge it 
will bloom in crops. Edwardsii and De Graw are still 
esteemed valuable sorts by some good growers, while with 
many they are abandoned as worthless;, a few have given 
up the culture of carnations, being unable to further suc- 
ceed with them, A correspondent in the "American 
Florist" says,Milander and Stilow, are neighboring florists^ 
growing cut flowers at Niles Center, for the Chicago mar- 
ket. Milander grows Henzie to perfection, while Stilow 
cannot grow it with success,, and Stilow^ grows Garfield 
well, and Milander cannot. Correspondents in Floral 
Journals have become feelingly animated and sarcastic in 
affirming and denying the merits and demerits of the same 
varietv. 

Carnation plants may be diseased, or inherently and 
constitutionally weak, cuttings taken from such parents,, 
by heredity, will partake of the nature of the parents, but 
this is not versatility. There are plenty of varieties of un- 
questioned health and vital stamina. 

The Ben Davis npple flourishes in Kansas^ Missouri and 
Southern Illinois; the Baldwin in Michigan, Northern! 
New York and Ohio. This is not versatility of this species 
of fruit, but the two kinds of apples are adapted by nature 
to the degrees of mean annual temperature of the two- 
Itatitudes. 

It is the nature of Snowden, as treated, to bloom in> 
August, of Quaker City to bloom on the bench in Aprils 
for Eureka and Field of Gold to bloom late and give but a 
single crop of flowers, for sea shell to bloom in the field 
and almost refuse to do so under glass; these are varieties 
of species so decreed by nature the moment the seed from 
which they sprung were vitalized, and are not versatilities. 

The distinction should be clearly kept in mind that 
varieties of species with any inherent natural peculiarity 
they may possess are in no sense a "versatility" of that 
species. 

There are late and early, red and yellow, long and flat 
shaped apples^ these are varieties of the species. 



•CAllNAT I ON CULTURE:. 1 85 

Ther-e are early and late, red and white, long and short 
'Stemmed carnations, these are varieties and not versatilities 
of the species.; but in the natural play of the fructifying 
forces, within the boundry of the race, the limit toward 
annual ism was touch in Snowden and perennialism in 
Henzie. 

THE CAUSE OF VERSATILE HABITS. 

The only end and aim of any plant existence is to per- 
petuate and multiply itself. Annuals do this in a single 
vegetating season and die; Biennials accomplish this re- 
sult in two growing seasons, with an intervening winter. 
Perennials are slow in the line of reproduction, and many 
years elapse before they fill the purpose 'of their creation. 
Biennials doubtless were once perennials, and forced by 
the worlds geological changes to perform the object of 
their life in a lessened period pf time, and unable to reach 
it as an annual ;they adapted themselves to the climate con- 
ditions of the Temperate Zone and crowded the effort of 
years into two seasons Biennials have the simplified 
organs and functions of an hibernating animal, to all in-- 
tents and purposes biennials are hibernating plants. An 
hibernating animal fills its cellular tissue with fat; an 
elaborated and condensed nourishment for its winter 
food, which is slowly consumed during its torpid life. 

Biennial plants act on precisely the same principle. In 
addition to their growth they store their cells and intersti- 
tial spaces of stem, roots and leaves, with rich protean com- 
pounds, to perfect their bloom and mature their seed the 
following season. So complete and full is this supply that 
little is required of life's function thereafter but a condition 
of health, and a watery circulation to dissolve and distrib- 
ute through their systems this stored and concentrated 
plant food. A biennial cabbage, if its roots are cut off 
and the stalk set in water in the spring, will bloom and 
mature seed from the elements stored in the stalk the pre 
vious season. If an hibernating animal, after its system is 
filled with fat, winter food, was transported to a winterless 
climate; the supply of fat would be exhausted in the con- 
tinued exercises of life, and the animal would sport its 
hibernating character into one of perennial activity. 



l86 CARNATION CULTURE. 

A biennial carnation, after its system is stored with con- 
densed protean food to carry it through a sluggish winter 
life and active after fructifying season, is transported fronrt 
the field to a winterless greenhouse; its life forces con- 
tinue active, even quickened by the stimulus of the heat 
and moisture. It expends its garnered nutriment in a pro- 
fuse floresence and dies at the close of biennial life, or 
sports its character into a flowerless perennial. 

H. Vick, an energetic and an experimenting florist of 
this city, took Henzie's cuttings, treated them as usual, 
lifted and benched in the fall. They afforded the usual 
winter crop of bloom, Vick thought he would carry the 
large bench of plants through the following summer and 
winter, and it was treated to that end. The plants looked 
healthy and vigorous, and gave much promise all the time, 
but few flowers any of the time; they were thrown out in 
the spring perfect specimens of health, and a notable in- 
stance of a winterless greenhouse transmuting a florescent 
biennial into a flowerless perennial. 

Annuals, Biennials, and Perennials, are coinvertable plant 
characters Plants have belts, zones and isothermal lines 
"which afford them their natural environments, and within 
which their characters are firmly fixed; but plants taken 
north or south of their climatic home, or artificially con- 
ditioned at home, readilv sport their character; adapting 
themselves to their new surroundings, if taken south of their 
natural zone, biennials sport into perennials. The annual 
Nasturtion of the north is a perennial shrub in South 
America. Biennials moved north run into annuals, in 
remote artic lands they are so intensely annual that they 
germinate, grow Bnd perfect seed in six weeks; there being 
eleven month of wintry night between the vegetating 
seasons. 

Carnations along and north of the thirty-ninth degree of 
north latitude in Europe and America are biennials. 

The following propositions cannot be seriously disputed. 
Plants moved north or south of their natural habitations 
sport their true type of character. 

The type of change of a biennial if moved south, is into 
that of a perennial; such a change is characterized by vigor 
of growth and general loss of floresence. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 187 

Greenhouse treatment of a biennial is in effect the same 
on it, as a removal of it south of its native zone. 

The decrease of the floresence of a biennial is in the 
ratio of completeness of the transformation of its character 
into a perennial. 

The value of carnations depends on maintaining for 
them their true biennial type of character. A cause most 
frequently assigned for the versatile habits of carnations is 
that they run out, and give different results in different 
stages of their decadence. That they become often com- 
paratively worthless is true, but another cause must be dis- 
covered than age, through the imaginary devitalizing pro- 
cess of propagation by cuttings. 

Peter Henderson held that "there is no degeneracy of 
life force in continual propagation by cuttings." There 
may be by grafting; for then there is a conflict of dissimilar 
life currents in varieties. 

All fluctuation in crops of carnation bloom resulfes from 
a warped or deflected character of the plaut. Carnation 
plants with their true character well maintained do not 
degenerate in vigor, size or quantity of flowers, but im- 
prove in all these respects. Growers of seedlings know 
that often several years elapse before they reach the level 
of their best estate, and the change is mostly in the direc- 
tion of improvement. A few of the standard sorts culti- 
vated today were years in maturing qualities that forced 
them to the front. 

Mr. F. Dorner, in his address on carnations at the 
Toronto Convention (1891), deplores the versatility of car- 
nation and alleges the cause to be "the perpetuity of growth 
and bloom through cuttings, and the cure; to grow all 
plants from seed, for the life of a carnation is but six 
years, and seedlings will produce twice as many flowers as 
the old kinds." 

As to the age and usefulness of carnation plants, and 
their floresence as compared with seedlings, Mr. D's state- 
ments are true if the plants have transformed their character; 
but not so,if they have maintained their true biennial type. 
From a wholesale list of carnations issued, 1892, contain- 
ing seventy varieties, the cream of the kinds now culti- 
va'ed; as near as I could estimate, their ages were five, ten, 
fifteen and twenty years, and about one-fourth in each 



l88 CARNATION CULTURE. 

class. Nothing but an increased size of flower, and 
floresence could keep a twenty year old carnation contest- 
ing supremacy with the grand new seedlings cf today. 

Degeneracy means loss of vigor, decay. No such a condi- 
tion exists in carnation plants that have become worthless 
through a modified type of character; on the contrary they 
are marvelous specimens of vigor and luxuriant growth, 
they have lost their flowering habit and gained growing 
stamina. 

Thomas Seal, a close observer and a veteran ex-grower 
says, *'a whole bed of carnations may become barren in 
time by taking cuttings indiscriminately, a portion from 
plants that have no flowers, such plants grow enormously 
and produce many cuttings, all of which will prove un- 
productive; while productive parents produce but few cut- 
tings. In this w^ay a whole stock will in a few years become 
unproductive ©f anything but foliage and stems." 

Edwardsii and De Graw are the grandparents of all the 
carnations in America. For the increase in the size of 
flowers that twenty years of cultural improvement has 
wrought in these kinds; see the first electro type of car- 
nation flowers on this continent, life size, on page 
125, and compare with the fine florwers these kinds produce 
today. The pure biennial type of character of these old 
kinds has been well maintained in the hands of a few- 
good growers, so the cause of versatility does notarise from 
age, or degeneracy through continual propagation by cut- 
tings. 

The continuity of life is the same in a seedling as in a 
cutting, there is even more degeneracy in the former than 
in the latter. The law of hereditary weakness asserts it- 
self stronger in animal and vegetable coition and concep- 
tion, than in any other act; not more than one seedling in 
five hundred has equal merit with its parents and not one 
in a thousand superior merit. Out of all the seedlinga 
ever raised in America not over two hundred have dis- 
tinctive merit. 

New life, fresh vigor and great floresence does not ex- 
clusively attach to seedlings. Carnations may perennialize 
and lose their character to flower, freely but never lose 
except by disease, life vigor. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 189 

Plants seed and produce the best progeny when sur- 
rounded by their truest natural conditions. The seed of a 
true biennial carnation, — others will not seed — will produce 
a plant of pure natural type. From this fact springs the 
idea they that possess fresh vigor. 

Nature never adopts a degenerating process in the con- 
tinuance of species; but writes Excelsior on every arch that 
spans the world of life. The Zoophyte Kingdom, and all 
unicellular life, is continued by division of self. 

In the ratio that carnation plants are of a large and suc- 
culent growth will they be barren of flowers, and this is 
just the ratio of their convertion into perennials. If their 
true biennial type of character is well maintained, they be- 
come more florescent, and evolve larger flowers, by proper 
culture. 

Mr. Dorner said, "seedling plants about which I was in 
doubt as to throw away, on furthur testing came out on 
top." Thus progress attaches after plant development, and 
does not all center in the abstract act of fecundation. 

The law of development is stamped by nature on the 
character of carnations, and exercises its force on old vari- 
eties as well as new seedlings. 

By reason of unnatural green house methods, carna- 
tions are continually oscillating between inducing and re- 
sisting forces, —for and against — true and false types of 
character. Their parents were perennials and their suscept- 
ability is naturally great to any influence that would drift 
them toward perennialism. 

At the Buffalo Convention of the American Carnation 
Society, Feb.1892, E.Swayne said, that he would like to have 
it explained why several thousand Snowdens that he had re- 
fused to bloom, grew extravagantly. Mr. Scott said he 
had a similar experience, his plants became bushy trees 
with scarcely a single flower on them. 

The plants in question had simply sported their biennial 
plant character; under green house methods they had 
perennilized. Flowers, seed, procreation, death, are all 
ignored by a biennial when it clothes itself in the vest- 
ments of perpetual life. 

The law governing these plants Goefthe has enunciated 
as controling life in organisms,, endorsed by Darwin;, 
vizu 



190 CARNATION CULTURE. 

"In order to expend on one side, nature has to economize on 
the other side.'^ 

Fruit and flowers gain in size and quality, for this ex- 
pense nature saves her force; by blasting their seed. In a 
cow that gives much milk; for this, nature economizes by 
refusing to deposit fat. 

In carnations plants of preternatural growth and vigor, 
nature frugally stops the costly expense of bloom. 

There is but little versatility in the growth or life forces 
of carnation plants; it is their reproductive nature, that 
is so susceptable to the slight maligna influences, that 
is complained of. 

Goethe's law. 

*'It was Goethe whose inspired genius first lighted upon 
the bottom fact of botany, namely; that each plant has but 
two parts — leaf and stem. The reproductive portions — 
pistil, petal, stigma, calyx and corolla — are only modified 
leaves. The flower is only a leaf modified for reproduc- 
tive purposes." 

In the world of life Nature never creates new organs,but 
adapts old ones to new necessities. The first step Nature 
takes to convert a biennial carnation into a perennial is to 
stop modifying green leaves into the botanical parts of 
flowers. This done, the olant takes on perpetual life, with 
little necessity to bloom, or reproduce its species. Plants 
that live the longest beget the least; the giant oak that 
lives centuries annually drops but few small acorns. 

There are two controling activities in every plant and 
animal; viz: ''to live" and ''to beget;" to live that they may 
beget. These two forces are based upon the reproductive 
germ cells and the adventitious cells in the organism. 
In the equipoise of these two forces there is perfect health. 
The dominancy of the life force is at the expense of the 
power to beget. All animals that are fleshy through ex- 
cess of life activities are passionateless and barren. All 
carnation plants that excell in luxuriant foliage are 
barren of flowers; while plants productive of flowers are 
correspondingly barren of leaves; for they have been 
modified into pistils, petals, stigmas, etc. Slight causes 
are sufficient to arrest the modification of leaves. The 
latter stages of a carnation's transformation of character is 



■CARNATION CULTURE. I91 

•easily detected bv the eye, the early stashes much less so, 
but ranges from the interruption of the production of a 
single flower to absolute barrenness. Under all circum- 
stances the redundency of leaves is in the inverse ratio to 
the productiveness of bloom. 

The Eden fieud that betruiles carnations from their high 
estate with the promise of perennial life does it thro' 
excess of heat, rich soil, and moisture. 

Goethe's law is universal, and applies to plants in every 
zone. Any unnatural condition, or disturbance of the 
balance of life's forces is adequate to arrest the transition 
of leaves into flowers. Carnations surrounded by false 
environments must be very sensitive to scores of small and 
unnoticed influences, rendering them capricious in their 
habits. It is those unseen causes that has shrouded their 
versatility in such mysterious wonderment. 

The Botanical department of Cornell University has 
tested the cultivation of plants and flowers under the in- 
fluenc:e of the electric light. 

The first effect was the enormous increased rate of 
growth in stems and foliage; but when it came to seed, 
fruit and flowers the matter was very different. The plants 
that grew by daylight were away ahead in all the attributes 
of virility, and in every instance the reproductive powers of 
the plants were strongly and prejudicallv affected; flowers, 
fruit and seed were all sacrificed to mere foliage and 
rapidity of increase of general size. 

To secure uniform results in growing carnations, the 
well established laws of plant life must be regarded, viz.: 

'^Artificial conditions should conform as 
near as possible to natural environments .'^ 

''The highest vossihility in vlant unfoldment 
is supvlemental, and must be made along the 
line o-f character nature stamped upon the 
plantJ' 

If it is natural for a plant, demanding for its best de- 
velopment a mean annual temperature of fifty dee'T'ees, to 
profusely modify its leaves into flowers-; it must be un- 
natural for it to do the same thing when subjected to a 
mean annual temperature of 75 degrees. 



192 CARNATION CULTURE. 

Chas. Starr, whose name will ever be familiarly asso- 
ciated with the early history of carnation growing in 
America, wrote to me a few days before the fatal illness 
which terminated his life (Dec. 24, 91,): "Buttercup is do- 
ing better with me than it has for years, caused I think by 
more robust and natural treatment given to the plants and 
cuttings of this variety." 

If the continuance of stock was divorced from forced 
flowering plants on the benches and a natural method of 
treatment adopted in keeping with the foregoing laws; 
within two years all preternatural sensitiveness of carna- 
tions to occult causes, inducing versatility, would be re- 
moved and a grand step taken in the direction of uniform 
results from varieties. 

E. Lonsdale says: "a friend writes me that with himMrs. 
Fisher produces four times as many flowers as Lizze Mc- 
Gowen, now with me the first is worthless, while the latter 
behaves well." This illustrates how speedily carnations 
contract depraved habits; when it is remembered three 
years ago these sportive daines kissed their mother nature 
in the arms of maternity, and robed in white, knelt at the 
shrine of virtue, as they entered the gates of their lustrous 
and inconstant lives. 

TEMPERATURE. 

No law is better settled in Geographical Botany than 
the following: 

'^A certain mean anmtal temperature is re- 
quired by each -particular svecies of plants for 
their development, and their highest estate will 
admit of hut a slight variation in the number of 
degrees of the temperature required-'' 

Plants are not affected by l;irge temporary fluctuations 
in temperature, but are very sensitive to any material 
deviations in the mean annual temperature. The wine 
grape will admit of but 9 degrees; sugar cane and Plantain 
tree of but 4, and the cotton plant of but 5 degrees of varia- 
tion. 

Through all the vegetable kingdom an increase or de- 
crease of a few degrees of mean annual temperature 
outlines new zones, and fills them with a different flora. 



CARNATION CULTURE, I93 

A case illustrating the extreme sensitiveness of plant 
mature to variation. of temperature and required conditions, 
is a species of Origanum discovered rn a single rock in 
the island of Armogos in the Graecian Archipelago, by 
Tournefort, in 1700; eighty years afterwards the plant was 
found in the same island, and on the same rock, and 
no where else in the world, which means no other spot had 
the same mean temperature and other co-existing condi 
tions as existed on that rock. 

It is not strange that carnations subjected to fluctuations 
of mean annual temperature as wide as those of the Tem- 
perate and Torrid zones should be versatile in their habits. 

The carnation belt so far as it is developed does not 
embrace more than five degrees north of the 39 degree of 
latitude, and is much better defined on its southern, 
than on its northern border, proving the sensitiveness of 
this species of plants to lateral climatic influences. I 
mean by this belt a zone of land four orfi^^e hundred miles 
wide, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans, and 
possibly belting the globe, and not a " Spot-'^ 

No seedling carnation of any merit has yet originated 
south of the 39 degree, Carnation Peter Henderson was 
scDt out by a firm of Louisville, Ky., but was originated by 
Carleton in Ohio, no plant of advanced merit is likely to 
originate only where the most favorable environments for 
the species exist. 

The frailities of carnations is most easily reached 
througli the seductive flattery of heat, they yield their vir- 
tues to the amorous embrace of perennial warmth, and be- 
come capricious and inconstant \vantons, the phvlacti^ 
charm against theii- sportive nature, and all their maladies 
is the annual mean frigidity of the fortieth degree of north 
latitude; except when on the bench and being forced for 
flowers. 

Biennials are distinct from annuals and perennials, in 
the profusion of their bloom, the first seasons growth is 
spent in gathering force for the final efforts to perpetuate 
themselves. The Agave, Banana and all fruits and 
flowers that die after parturition are marvelous in their 
last extravagant efforts to continue themselves. 

Two vegetating seasons are the span of life allotted to 
biennial carnation plants and the best evidence that they 



7^4 CARNATION CULTURE. 

have lived unspotted and unsporting lives is for thennr 
then to die. For biennials to live beyond their time means- 
a corrupted nature, to die means a new birth. 

Mythology says that the twins Pollux and Castor were 
granted by fate with but one immortality, so they lived and 
died alternately every year. There is but one immortal- 
ity for carnations, the reciprocal succession of life and 
death, in parents and progeny, such are the amazing 
processes of nature; yesterday tlie plant was in the vigDr of 
its sun fed glory, todav it is in its shroud of painted petals,, 
throwing kisses of incense to im admiring world as it 
gaily enters the gates of another life. Death is nature's sig- 
net on its rounded being, a new biennial consecration at 
the alter of creations wonders. A fresh baptism in per- 
fumed irridiscence behind the jasper walls that hide all 
human sight. 

BENCHING MATURE PLANTS. 

An unquestioned law in Vegetable Physiology is: 

"Each species of plants requires a certain 
number of days to comvlete its course of vege- 
tation and growth, and the mean temverature 
multiplied hy the number of days gives the sum 
of heat the plant requires for its develovment 
if the mean temveratureis lowered the number 
of days must he increased, if increased the 
number of days must be diminished/' 

Soils, latitude, bodies of water, isotherms, etc., are large 
natural agencies in controling the mean annual temper- 
ature of the seasons in various localities. 

Carnations are planted in the field as soon as the ground 
can be prepared in the spring, not because the plants need 
a long season; but because the cool moist weather of spring 
is favorable for the plants taking root. Biennials do not 
require a long season to perfect ripening of the plants. In 
estimating the length of the season for a carnation plant, it 
must be remembered that the rooted cutting, when set out 
starts with at least two months of season, as compared with 
growth from seed. 

Geo. Hancock, Mich., says, "I struck cuttings late in 
May and planted directly in the field from the cutting 



CARNATION CULTURE. I95 

bench in June, and on Nov. ist, they were bushy plants 
well covered with buds." 

The average length of field life of carnation plants is 
four months; if two months more are added to them by rea- 
son of them being rooted cuttings, it would make six 
months growth to reach puberty, or thedominancy of the 
reproductive forces of the plants. Soil, seasons and varie- 
ties are how^ever factors not counted in this estimate. 
The effect of the length of season on plant life is governed 
by the above law. 

If carnation plants are permitted to remain in the field 
longnfter they are ripened (this expression is used for the 
want of a more expressive one) and an open vegetating sea- 
son continues, they are quite sure to take a second growth; 
stem and leaves will grow wonderfully, and will be weak 
and watery; in doing this there is a rapid consumption of 
the protean compounds laid up in the plant's system for 
fructification on the biennial plan of nature and they loose 
their capacity to bloom and seed, and take decisive initia- 
tive steps into perennialism. The growth that carnation 
plants make on the benches is entirely different, and like 
that they would take on the second season of their life, if 
left in the field. Mature plants of pure biennial type, 
when benched, seem to have but one purpose; that is the 
production of flowers, the womb of seeds, embryonic car- 
nation plants 

Thos. Mewan announced a law of plant life years ago-. 

'^JVature always makes an effort to reproduce 
the plant in proportion to its danger of deaths 

Often fruits and flowers in order to yield their bloom 
have to feel the fear of death by scarification, top or root 
pruning. Be the shock to the constitution of the lifted 
carnation little or great, it is the turning point of its utility 
to man. The abstract act of lifting and replanting a car- 
nation plant is the most salutary thing done to it during 
its life. It is a substitute for its coma of cold, and spans the 
winter of its life; it was born only to bloom and seed, to 
lift it from its earth attachments is an alarm of a wasted 
life, and it makes immediate efforts to fill the purpose of its 
being. 

The act of transplanting from the field to the benches 
starts all the new impulses of a second season's growth. 



196 CARNATION CULTURE. 

It is to the plant a pulse of danger, life hibernating in its 
citadel of cells has felt the warning of impending death, an- 
nihilation has rung a warning bell, and frighted with a 
season's wealth of petals and of perfume, the carnation 
plants faces fate; offering possibly two hundred fragrant 
flowers in a short season for immortality, and smothered in 
perfume and pavillioned in flowers, dies in its wild, wierd 
and mysterious efforts to live again in vital seeds. The 
periods during which carnation plants produce the most 
bloom are after they are lifted and before their biennial 
death. 

A ripened biennial carnation plant is one that has grown 
its season, elaborated its juices, and crystallized their 
compounds. It is the puberty of the plant, the period of 
between growth and reproduction, the hour between yes- 
terday and tomorrow. Its stems are firm and compact, its 
nodes are solid and almost woody, its leaves are tough and 
leathery, the stems and foliage are erect and self support- 
ing, there is little sap in its circulation, it has stopped 
growing, and is hardened for the snows and blasts of win- 
ter. It is then it should be lifted if the soil is dust, the 
thermometer 90 degrees and without a particle of dirt to 
the roots, and put on the bench, or in a pot, and with a lit- 
tle moisture and shade the plant will scarcely flag. It had 
rounded the vegetating period of its first season's life, and 
its functions of life were torpid, heretofore it had lived but 
to grow, hereafter it will live but to reproduce 

Mr. Orr of Ottawa, III , says, "I lift my carnations in 
August without any dirt to the roots; last senson I lost but 
one plant out of 1150." 

If lifting is done before or after the ripened stage of the. 
plant, both will be successful, if done with greater care. 
Upon the ripened conditions of plants turns all the ques- 
tions of late and early lifting, lifting with nr without balls 
of earth to the roots, successful and unsuccessful lifting, 
early and late blooming of the benched plants. If a plant 
is nut ripened when lifted, it has to continue its growth to 
the reproductive period of its life, which would cause it to 
bloom later. Upon the perfected condition of the field 
plants at the time of lifting turns largely the question of 
the depth of bench soil and the utility of solid beds for 
carnations. If the plants are not ripe they need much 



CARNATION CULTURE. 197 

more bench soil from which to draw nourishment to com- 
plete their biennial maturity, if they are over ripe and 
started on a perennial growth, they need deep bench 
earth, possibly solid beds, to sustain their preternatural 
condition. 

A properly ripened plant on the bench needs but little 
earth to sustain a healthy circulation, with it nature re- 
enacts the marvel of the marriage feast, green leaves smile 
in flowers, as water '"blushed in wine." 

These laws are as invariable as the decrees of nature; to 
disregard them versatility of habits ensues, to regard them 
reduces carnation culture to almost an exact science. 

CUTTINGS. 

Carnation cuttings are now taken during the months of 
November, December, January, Febuary and March, 
from benched plants, which have been forced for flowers 
from one to five months; such cutting must have in their 
nature the germs of perennialism and versatility. The 
grower starts the cuttings in high heat and roots them in 
ten to fifteen days, then grows them in pots or flats in 
greenhouse temperature until the first of May. Carna- 
tions, it must be remembered, are by nature low tempera- 
ture plants,and 75 degress of top and bottom heat poured on 
the cuttings at the moments of time they are establishing a 
new and independent plant existence must be highly per- 
nicious in maintaining for them their true type of hardy 
plant character. 

Peter Henderson said, "I am convinced more injury is 
done carnations by rooting them in a high temperature 
than from any other one cause." 

But now that cuttings are taken from highly forced 
plants, a high temperature for the cutting bench is not 
only effectual, but necessary to their speedy and successful 
rooting. 

Cuttings to perpetuate pure biennial blood can best be 
obtained from model plants with the best marks of fall 
ripenings, carried on the dry side, in cold frames, or cold 
houses, and rooted with little heat in not less than four 
weeks time. 

Joshua Ladley of Pa. exhibited cuttings rooted well, 
at a little over 36 degrees, before the Chester County Car- 
nation Society. After being rooted they should be carried 



198 CARNATION CULTURE. 

at a low temperature, as there is quite a winter growth 
in all biennial plants at any temperature above that which 
produces death. 

The time of taking the cuttings has everything to do 
with the early and late maturity of field plants, also the 
whole question of disbudding in the field. A carnation's 
life properly measured will not have to be pinched back in 
the field. If such a thing is needed the cuttings have been 
taken too early and the flowering resources of the plants 
prematurely exhausted by such mismanagement. 

All carnations, as to time of blooming, marshal them- 
selves between early Snowden and late Henzie. There are 
four months difference by nature, in tlie time of these two 
kinds blooming, and there should be just that difference in 
the length of their lives prior to Oct. i, or the desired 
blooming period, in order that both may start at once in 
the race of bloom. This law applies to every carnation in 
cultivation; as to their time of blooming, every grower can 
estimate within ten days when any variety will bloom. It is 
as unfortunate for winter bloom, to strike early kinds too 
early, as it is for the late kinds to strike too late. 

For summerflowering, Mr. Lombard states that he strikes 
his cuttings in August for the following summer's bloom, 
and they will commence to flower in June. In France the 
cutltngs as started in July and August, without bottom 
heat, and carried through the winter in cold frames; the re- 
sult of this routine is pure biennial blood, great constancy 
of habit and magnificent floral results. Life lives in cells, 
in a single cell in a seed with power to multiply new cells. 
In a cutting life exists in many cells already formed, with 
a power to further multiply them. Surround a seed or a 
cutting with natural environments and both will widen, 
and strengthen their fortifications of life, by healthy cell 
growth, and strain toward perfection under the ever acting 
law of structural betterment. 

In multiplying by cuttings, heredity transmits merit or 
demerit; the cutting partakes of the exact normal, or ab- 
normal condition of the parent plant at the moment it is 
taken, which conditions becomes not only fixed, but often 
emphasized in the rooted cutting. 

Versatilities of carnations arises from the character of 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



199 



the cuttings, and the place on the flowering stem from 
which thev are taken. 

Two cuttings taken from different parts of the same 
cane of the same plant will produce different results it 
treated exactly alike. If two projjer cuttings are tnken 
from the same cane, one early, the other late in the sea- 
son; or if one is rooted in a high, and the other in a lou 
temperature, or if carried after being rooted in ^proper, or 
improper heat; or if subjected to the ricjht and the other 
to a wrong kind of field soil; in each instance there will be 
different results. 

If two propjer cuttings are taken from the same plant, one 
before it is forced, and the other after the plant is forced; or 
before, or after the plant has perennalized; in each instance 
there will be a different result in the character and quality 
of the crop of bloom. 

Yet in the light of years of experience, observation, and 
botanical science, I assert that there is not an agricultural, 
nor horticultural product, freer from versatility, or one 
that will give a more uniform and bounteous crop than a 
carnation plant, if properly treated. 

SEEDLINGS. 

''Thehestin the way of seedling carnations 
must he close along the line of character 
nature stamped upon the species.'' 

The Henzie carnation was born in Detroit in 1877 from 
the seed of a plant that had remained out, unprotected the 
previous winter, (the seed of which came from Germany.) 
No carnation was ever born on the continent with as 
strong an individualized character as Henzie; it is a good 
white when inatured, and all sporting of shades of color 
comes from corrupt stock, deficient heat, or excess of 
moisture. It is the Napoleon of American carnations. 

It may have seen its Australitz, met its Waterloo, and be 
sailing toward its St. Helena, but in a quarter of a century 
from now there will be growers, w^ho at the name of 
Henzie will shout ""Vive le Empereur.^' 

Fred Creighton, one of the best pink carnations of the 
precise shade, I understand, is from the seed pod of a parent 
that never felt the subtle sorcery of artificial heat. 



200 CARNATION CULTURE. 

Nature interdicts carnations that have sported their 
character from seedling, thereby continuing a mongrel 
race. They are sterile out of nature's abhorrence to mon- 
grelism. So when they do seed they must be close on the 
line of their true nature, and the products of their seed are 
fresh warm specimens from tlie womb of the biennial 
nature of the species. 

Tae fabled Antaeus renewed his streasTth whenever he 
kissed his mother earth. Both flora and fauna refuse to 
perpetuate their species at home or abroad unless sur- 
rounded by natural conditions. In new seedling carna- 
tions we have the assurance that they were warmed to life 
by the vestal fire that nature burns upon the alter of Dian- 
thus. 

Nature protests against in-breeding, both in the animal 
and vegetable worlds. In plants this is done by maturing- 
the stamens and pestils, male and female organs of genera- 
tion, in the same flower at different times. Carnations be- 
long to that class of plants (pTOteTClTlciTOltsY'^^'^^ch. ripen 
their pistils before the stamens mature. There is no 
difference between Hermorphroditic fertilization and 
propagation by cuttings. In both cases there are a contin- 
uence of the SCil7h6 plasm and primordiel cell. In cross 
fertilization there is a union, by fission in the ovules, of the 
germ cells of two varieties. This sexual union is the 
nucleus of a new compound entity and life force, dissimilar 
from either parent, and may be an improvement on them. 
Propagation by cuttings is not devtalizing, while reproduc- 
tion by seed is rejuvenating. Old varieties will steadily 
improve by proper culture, while new varieties will lead 
them in the race of evolution. 

If not another seedling was procured in America for the 
next ten years, the present stock in that time, by the force 
of selection and the "natural metliod of treatment," would 
yield ten per cent better flowers than they do today. 

If the carnation world in lieu of centering all its skill 
and energy on the production of seedlings, would divide 
its efforts in maintaining the health and true type of char- 
acter of the many superb existing kinds, greater progress 
would be made in carnation culture. 

Darwin on the "Origon of Species" earnestly insists 
hat varieties are incipient species, or species are de- 



CARNATION CULTURE. 20£ 

veloped varieties. If no decadence attaches, the persistent 
varieties of carnations of today may develop into future 
species with all attaching qualities. The Alegatiere variety 
of forty years ago is the parent of the double clove scented 
species of carnations of today. 

POLLENIZATION. 

Whether the production of seedling carnations, by any 
process of fertilization, is along defined lines and methodi- 
cal sequences is not known. 

If so, these laws are so imperfectly understood, the 
result in obtaining meritorious seedlings has all the force 
and effect of accident. Such laws are within the scope of 
human inquiry, but the curtain behind which nature starts 
a new life will never be lifted. 

It is known that the occult forces at play in generation, in 
determining a yellow color in a carnation, also has hereto- 
fore worked a late and shy blooming habit, and frequently 
a weak constitution, and an indisposition to succeed under 
glass. This disposition exists in yellow carnations in 
Europe as well as in this country. Seven out of the fourteen 
yellow carnations that have been grown in this country 
were imported, and have been attended with all the accom- 
panying disabilities of such. 

A strong individualized and successfull winter blooming 
yellow carnation does not now exist, unless it is found in 
Golden Triumph. 

In artificial fecundation all guess work should be 
ignored in regard to parents. In plants, the stamens are 
the male, and the pistils the female organs of generation. 
The pollen dust produced by the first has to be gathered 
and applied to the sti8:nia of the latter by hand, this done, 
open the bud to be fertilized cut, away the green anthers, 
apply the dust, then close and closely tie the bud in fine 
tissue to prevent all possible contact with strange pollen, 
and if the seeds mature you have absolute assurance they 
are a cross of designated parents. What mystery there is 
about it is independent of this simple method. 

There are many theories as to the sourse of parentage 
from which the best seedlings can be obtained. Chaa. 
Starr says,''use old Edwardsii and De Graw for parents, and 
fertilize them with the pollen from flowers of a foreign 
color, and the product will be a better race," Another cor- 



202 CARNATION CULTURE. 

respondent says he obtains the best seedlings by using the 
the pollen from the single varieties of carnation. 

J. Lenton, Piru City, Cal., says: "I have grown tiiousands 
of seedlinors from seed artificiailv and self fertilized. I have 
this year one acre of seedlings. The percentage of extra 
fine ones is very small. I choose the most healthy plants for 
parents and pinch off all buds but those fertilized. I know 
of no rules governing the production of colors. I have got 
a color darker than Crimson King from White Henzie. 
Carnations seed but little, some varieties not at all; their 
organs of generation are dwarfed and imperfect. The fact 
they do not seed profusely is largely in their favor as- 
blooming plants. It is not the tlovver that exhausts a 
plant but the rich albuminous compounds deposited in the 
seed that saps its vigor. The abortive attempts of carna- 
tions to seed is at once followed by fresh efforts to succeed; 
hence in carnations, as in all other Don-seeding double 
flowers, the marvelous size and succession of corollas. 

STOCK PLANTS. 

Carnation pla:its are lifted from the field, where nature 
has accorded them loo degrees, their highest extreme an- 
nual temperature, taken into the house and given an aver- 
age winter temperature of 65 degress, thus making a mean 
annual temperature of 75 degrees; within 9 degrees of the 
mean temperature of the equator,the highest on earth. Cut- 
tings are taken from the plants and rooted at a high top 
and bottom heat and thus is the cycle completed of a 
routine that has contrived for thirty years. 

Carnations are the marvel of the world's flora. It is not 

i 

Strange they are versatile in their habits, but it is strange 
they flower in quantity at all. 

The late John Henderson of L. T., stated at the conven- 
tion of A. F., at Cincinnati, "In the fall of 1883 we 
had a surplus of two varieties of carnations; we healed 
them in in cold frames, they wintered well. In March, we 
took cuttings from them, and last winter they made the 
best plants for bloom we had, not one of them died, while 
we lost hundreds of others." Nothing is as sanitary to a 
40th latitude biennial plant, or so confirms its character 
and consecrates it to the religion of its nature; as a baptism 
3f frigidity. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 203 

The routine of Carnation Culture is destined to differ- 
entiate into winter blooming plants, stock and spring 
blooming plants. 

The first will be selected from the field, benched and sub- 
jected to such temperature as the grower's market demands; 
high, if he wants his crop early; h:)wer, if he desires it con- 
tinuously through the season. These plants will be used 
for blooming purposes only, and in no wise for cuttings. 
They will yield more and better flowers; more because 
each cutting taken means two flowers lost. 

Mr. Lombard, at the Philadelphia convention said, "tak- 
ing cuttings from blossoming plants makes them burst 
their calyxes; this pressing process throws to much life 
vifTor in the remaining buds." 

Stock and spring blooming plants will be benched or 
potted and carried in cold frames or cold houses at a tem- 
perature barely above freezing; a little of this will do no 
harm, they will slowly grow in any temperature above that 
which causes death. 

From these plants all cuttings will be taken for the com- 
ing season's stock. They will be used for spring sales 
in pots, and early out door summer bloom, and will yield 
the seed and cuttings from which will grow the ideal carna- 
tions of the future. 

The renewal, or exchange of a grower's stock, frequntly, 
is very beneficial, and is so recognized in Agriculture. 
Persistency of conditions is interrupted and other en- 
vironments are substituted which promotes productiveness 
of bloom. If stock becomes non-productive, or partially 
so, can it be restored to its biennial type of character? 
The substitution of rigid natural conditions for artificial 
ones, will in time certainly restore varieties to their true 
estate ,and if there is only a moderate deflection of char- 
acter it will be reached as soon as there is a sanitary 
equipoise of the life and reproductive forces in the plant. 

MOISTURE. 

"The Quantity of moisture a plant requires 
or its development is in ratio to the area of its 

leaf surface/' The broad and capacious leaf surface 
of the Banana,etc , indicates the quantity of water their na^ 
ture requires. The foliage of plants in this regard is an un- 
failing index. 



204 CARNATION CULTURE. 

Careful experiments have determined that one square 
foot of leaf surface exhales i 1-4 ounces of vapor daily, 
and 1-5 less during the night; while in rainy weather a 
perfect equilebrium is established between the absorbing 
and exhaling forces of the plant. 

The comparatively few and narrow g-rass like leaves of 
carnations show the leaf surface of this plant to be very 
small, and the absorbing capacity of the roots to be cor- 
resDondingly small. They then have the ability to appro- 
priate but a limited amount of moisture, and a slight excess 
would be damaging to their health. Physically, and 
botanically, carnations are dry weather plants; they 
revolt at an excess of water in diseases on the bench, and 
perennialism in the field. 

In the winter of 1889-90 the carnation crop in this coun- 
try was a partial failure; there were many diseased and 
defective plants and a decreased floresence in those that 
were apparently healthy. The previous summer had been 
unusually wet; excess of moisture during field life was the 
cause, there was deficient underdraining of carnation 
plants in retentive soils. Gravellv or sandy subsoils, that 
season grew the best plants. Mr. Herr, of Pa , says: "rich 
soil, excess of moisture and heat, favors calyx rupturing 
and disease in carnations." 

Some growers are now planting carnations on ridges in 
the field. The only conceivable advantage of which is; it 
affords a better surface drainage from the roots of tlie 
plants during field life, which in a wet season would be a 
great advantage. 

Excess of moisture destroys the balance between the life, 
and reproductive forces of the plants, stops the modifica- 
tion of leaves into flow^ers by stimulating a plethora of 
habit. 

J. Lenton, of Cal., says: "Carnations here bloom the 
best in the dry season; they all go to leaves and stems in 
the wet season." 

SOIL. 

Growers plant carnations in such soil as surrounds their 
houses, all succeed to an extent; hence there are many 
kinds of soils. Plants are fastened to the spot and can 
make no choice of food only from what is there offered. If 



CARNATION CULTURE 205 

they cannot get what their nature requires they take the 
next best thing. 

The stimulus of surplus nutriment abrogates the law of 
procreation. A plant with redundant vital activity refuses to 
convert its leaves into flowers, as a fat animal looses its 
desire to cohabit, and its power to conceive, flowers are 
the heat of a plant's passion and is analgous with 
ardor in an animal. 

Carnations require a compact tenaceous soil; a loose 
black soil will maintain 8 degrees higher temperature 
throughout the season^for the roots and plants than will a 
congenial soil; but it does not contain the elements 
required by the plant's nature. In such a soil they de- 
velop stems and leaves and run into perennialism in a 
single season. Clay soil may be a rich soil, for one 
species of plants and a quartzose soil full of humus may be 
a poor soil for the same species, for their proper develop- 
ment. 

A. W. Orr, of 111., says, "I have grown my carnations in 
the same bench earth for five years. I have dressed a few 
with well rotted cow manure, the effect was; the latter grew 
much faster in leaves and stems and yielded less flowers." 

The number of flowers a carnation plant will yield is in 
iTlV6TS6 ratio to the excess of foliage it may have, and the 
excess of foliage, is in djvrect ratio to the surplus nutri- 
ment, warmth, and moisture given it. On the benches or 
in pots, excess of plant food is qualified by the limited 
quantity of soil. Carnations with their life forces dis- 
turbed in the field cannot fully recover themselves on the 
benches. 

Benjamin Grey reports he "has raised carnations in 
solid beds for ten consecutive years with good results 
without renewing the soil, using cow manure as a ferti- 
lizer." 

Mr. L. Wight said at the Philadelphia convention ;"there 
is one quality the soil must have and that is adhesiveness." 

VENTILATION. 

Deficiency of fresh air in carnation houses is a mistake in 
to which growers instinctively fall. They are practical peo- 
ple and desire to grow speedily and husband as large a crop 
of flowers as possible. They read that cold draughts of 



2o6 CARNATION CULTURE. 

air will mildew roses and check the growth of other plants 
and become morbidly impressed with the tender nature of 
carnations. 

A man requires 250 cubic feet of air every hour to fur 
nish him with a healthy supply of oxygen; a plant requires 
a proportionate amount to supply it with its needed 
amount of carbonic gas. 

The blood in a man is distributed over 1400 feet of cell 
walls to secure its proper aeration; in a carnation plant the 
circulating juices are distributed over the cell walls in its 
foliage fifty times greater than its apparent leaf surface, in 
order to perfect its contact with the carbonaceous elements 
of the air. The foliage of all plants require moisture in the 
ratio that their roots dislike water; dry weather plants are 
aproximately air plants. The ventilation of carnation 
houses is a hundred per cent better in the fall and spring 
months than in mid winter, which is doubtless a great 
factor in the productiveness of bloom at those periods, as is 
shown by Winterstatter's tables. 

ADAPTATION BY SELECTION. 

One of the versatile habits of carnations is to bloom in 
crops, and the same variety in other hands, and localities, 
to bloom continuously. This peculiarity is mostly mon- 
opolized bv Henzie. If Heiizie has botli of these habits; 
one must be an acquired habit. It is the cropping habit 
that is natural to Henzie; because this is common to per- 
ennials and not to biennials, and Henzie has the strongest 
natural impress of the former class of plants of any carna- 
tion in cultivation. The continuously blooming habit is 
an "adapted" or acquired habit, and whenever it does not 
so bloom; the law has not been enforced on the stock and 
it asserts its natural habit, Henzie is a very late blooming 
kind by nature: this defect is overcome by striking its 
cuttings very early, thus increasing the sum of heat re- 
quired for its development by augmenting the number of 
the davs of its existence. 

If Henzie could propagate itself by seed, it would 
scarcely round the period of its biennial existence in two 
short vegetating seasons; hence it is adapted to the longer 
seasons on the southern limit of the carnation belt. 

Notwithstanding the disposition of old kinds to improve 
under culture, all that are in existence today will eventu- 



CARNATION CULTXTR'E. 207 

:ally l3e relegated to the rear by better and grander evolve- 
inents of tlie future. Through the processes of generation 
the qualities of betterment are worked more rapidly than 
by the processes of selections by cultivation, though the 
law is enforced in both processes. 

If size is to be the measure of merit in a carnation 
ilo\ver,we have seen twenty years of culture swell the corolla 
Edwardsii from i 1-2 to 2 1-2 inches in diameter, while the 
process of generation from the same parentage has devel- 
oped Sea Gull and Pearl whose flowers frequently reach 
3 1-2 inches in diameter. 

Large carnation flowers will always be an object of in- 
terest, but the best esthetic taste will never demand 
flowers, whose beauty is so wonderfully augmented by 
grouping, much larger than those now produced. Under 
the law of adaptation by selection carnations are under- 
going many changes. There is less disposition in recent 
carnations to burst their calyxes than formerly; origina- 
tors are breeding away from this defect. There is less dis- 
position in carnations to yield their bloom in crops than 
there was years ba^k There is an increasing demand for 
long stemmed carnation flowers, and there is an increasing 
disposition in carnation plants to yield them. Plants pro- 
duce more long stemmed flowers as their season under glass 
progresses; the drawing of the glass and the whole trend 
of green house influence is in the direction of long stemmed 
flowers. The tables on the productiveness of bloom show 
the ratio of increase of long stem flowers as the season 
closes. 

It is perfectly natural that new seedlings would adapt 
themselves to generations of ancestral pressure of this 
kind, and produce long stemmed flowers. Orient, Pomona, 
Lamborn, Delight and Argosy, produce almrjst terminal 
single stem flowers stooling up from the crown of the 
plant, and are the legitimate progeny of the law of adapta- 
tion by selection. 

All new seedlings are now described with more ti nth than 

formerly ''Constant blooDzers, lon^ stems, and do 
not hurst J' 

The demand for carnation in France is during the sum- 
mer and fall; in America during winter and spring, directly 
opposite seasons of the year. By adaptation the carnations 



2o8 CARNATION CULTURE. 

of both countries yield their crops for the period of ed- 
mand, and these habits are now so fixed that imported or 
exp( rted carnations are for a time worthless. All carna- 
tions had a common parentage. 

Mr. Hatfield in "Garden and Forest" imported English 
Carnations and subjected them to the same treatment as 
American carnations, but did not find one worth perpetu- 
ating. It would take years to change habits as it has 
taken years to form these habits. 

Wm. Falconer, on a visit to the botanical gardens, D. C, 
says he noticed a stout branching tree-like plant four feet 
high of "Ficiis Repensf^ so secured from that thread- 
like vine in twenty years time by Prof. Smith. 

Nature never creates a new organ, but adapts old ones to 
new conditions. "Goldwaithe's Geographical Magazine*' 
says the banana is an evolved tropical lily, from which 
nature has eliminated all seed and in lieu thereof has sub- 
stituted offsets by shoots, as the means of its perpetuation. 

Years of cultivation by adaptation has largely eliminated 
mature seed from carnation flowers and in exchange for 
the exhaustive proteine compounds deposited in them, the 
plant yields a redundant bloom and its existence is easily 
continued by cuttings. 

French growers striketheir cuttings early in the fall; 
when rooted are planted close in cold frames and thus 
carried through the winter till the setting out season, after 
which they bloom early and yield fine crops of magnifi- 
cent bloom. Acres are thus cultivated to supply the Paris 
inarket. This process of propagation and cultivation does 
away with artificial heat; secures the proper mean temper- 
ature and maintains their true biennial type of character. 
Carle, the largest carnation grower in the world, embraces 
hundreds of varieties in his catalogue but not one in 
twenty is recommended as a winter bloomer; while in 
America not one in twenty of the listed kinds is recom- 
mended for summer blooming. 

Mr Joseph Tailby, of Mass., is of the opinion that **the 
American Carnation as it is, is the result of adaptation by 
selection and acclimatization." 

It is certain either the blooming habit of the French or 
American Carnation is an acquired one and obtained 



CARNATION CULTURE. 209 

through adaptation by selection, and the natural habit 
certainly rests with the French carnation 

The power and influence of the law of adaptation, by 
selection and heredity may not be fully understood. Ger- 
man bic)logists would claim the Golden Rule is but the 
accumulated experience of man, transmitted with con- 
stantly increasing emphasis throui^h the aeons of past time, 
an ethic of the ages, which each succeeding century has 
etched a little deeper on man's nature, until now it has 
become a permanent moral law; a physical practise trans- 
muted by adaptation and heredity into a moral attrabute. 

The disposition of birds to fly from a coming winter 
to a genial clime is but the transmitted necessities of 
cycles of time on bird nature, until now it has become a 
permanent instinct in birds; a climatic condition trans- 
formed into an intuition. 

Tliat the modifying influence of man on the little five 
petaled Dianthus,ever since Pythagoris wrote on the flora of 
Greece, has been to improve it in size, beauty and fragrance. 
Tt has exercised a constantly increasing force on its being 
until now an evolving betterment is a law of its nature. 

To foster these results the law of the survival of the 
fittest, to transmit the law, instinct, and habit, survived. 
Men who did not know the law were hung, birds that had 
no vestage of the instinct died, carnations that showed no 
impress of the habit were cast out. 

The concise language of S. Lenton relative to carnations 
in California is here given. 'T live in Piru City, Ventura 
Co., California; my locality is 800 feet above sea level. The 
extremes of annual heat is 80 and 20 degrees above zero; it 
rarely freezes, never in the day time; the rainy season is 
from October to April, the dry season April to October. 
Carnation plants grow best in the wet season, but flower 
best in the dry season. I have plants this date, Feb lo, '92, 
in full bloom in the open ground. A carnation seedling 
with care will bloom in six months, and all the year there- 
after, best in April and May; least in July and August, 
they bloom better in poor than in rich ground, in rich soil 
ihev grow to be bio;- plants but no flowers. I think a good 
plant will yield in a season 500 flowers, they bloom much 
more profusely here than in the east especially seedlings. 
I have had much experience with carnations in the east as 



irO CARNATION CULTURE. 

well as here. I do not know how long a plant would Ifve 
here, I have several kinds three years old, and are still 
vigorous and three or four feet in diameter. Eastern car- 
nations do well here, most varieties seed very freely as 
Chester Pride, Silver Spray, Crimson King, E. G. Hill^ 
Henzie, and other kinds, my seed is grown in open 
ground, the seed I grow is superior to any I can buy, I 
began to grow seedlings several years ago, I have grown 
many thousand and have a full acre of them this year; the 
number of choice kinds obtained are very small compared 
with the large number grown. I have now 42 extra varie- 
ties, 18 of which I think are superior to any ever raised in 
America. Carnation plants are much used here for yard 
decorations and are constantly increasing in public favor^ 
but the flowers only bring 40 cents per hundred in the 
cities, the rose has the lead in popularity here. I start my 
cuttings under glass using manure for what little heat I 
need, I think there will be no difficulty about California 
carnations doing well in the east, eastern carnations do 
well here, there is probably no place on the continent they 
seed as freely as they do here which I think is evidence of 
virility and purity of species. I have named one of my 
best seedlings Dr. Lamborn, after the author of Carnation 
Culture, and hope it will do as well east as it does west of 
the Sierra Nevada mountains."^ 

CONCLUSION, 

With me there is no principle better settled in the 
cosmogony of the world's flora than that varieties are par- 
ents of species. 

A life lease of ages is given by nature to every vdTi&tlf 
of carnation, in its natural state, subject only to the law of 
the survival of the fittest. The life and health of carna- 
tions, if naturally conditioned, though artificially manipu- 
lated, would be as persistent as they would be in a state of 
nature^ Propagation by cuttings works no decadence in 
the life force of a variety. 

The life of blooming usefulness of a carnation plant is 
often but a few years. 

If these facts are admitted, it is conclusive that it is un- 
natural treatment that modifies the character of carnation 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



2rl 



plants and check them so quickly off of the roster of useful- 
ness? The .only remedy are methods of conditions, in 
harmony with the character nature has impressed upon 
their species. 



g' A ^ 



REGISTERED LIST OF CARNATIONS ORIGI- 
NATED SINCE THE SPRING OF 1889. 

o 

FOR ALL, VARIETIES ORIGINATED AND CULTIVATED IN AMEKICA 

PRIOR TO 1889 SEE PAGES 133 AND 164, RESPECTIVELY 

OF THIS WORK. 



PINK CLASS OF CARNATIONS. 



Adelade — Lenton. 
Angelus — Shelmire. 
Annie Wiegand — Dorner. 
Argosay — Starr. 
Aurora — Swayoe. 
Avalanch— Lenton. 
Brewster — Starr. 
Betrace— Shelmire. 
Beauty of Oxford — Schneider. 
Cherry Lips — Dorner. 
Christine — Hill. 
Chastity — Starr. 
Doranda— Lombard. 
Dorothy — Shelmire. 
Daybreak— Simmons. 
E. Lonsdale — Dorner. 
Edna Craig— Hill. 
EA^ylin — Smith. 
Grace Battles— Lonsdale. 
Grypsy Queen — Hill. 
Hellen Gal vin— Wight. 
H. E. Chitty- -Dorner. 
Jennie Parker— Lenton. 
Mable— Lenton. 
Mrs. Coldflesh— Coldflesh. 



Mrs. L. Fawcett— Fawcett. 

Mrs. L. Fancourt — Fancourt. 

Mrs. A. Hunt— Hill. 

Mrs. Hitt-Hill. 

Mrs. E. Reynolds—Dorner. 

Mm Diaz Albertine— Dorner. 

Majesty— Lenton. 

Mary— Lenton. 

ISTellie Lewis— Lewis. 

Old Rose— McGowen. 

Oona — Lenton . 

Princess — Wight. 

Pendleton — Swanye. 

Rosemary — Starr. 

Richmond — Dorner. 

Salmon Queen — Hill. 

Sea Shell— Esler. 

Spartan — Dorner. 

Thos. Cartledge — Swayne. 

Tendress — Miller. 

Wm. Scott— Dorner. 

West End— Jennings. 

W. N. Rudd-Hill. 

Welcome — Dorner. 



YELLOW VARIEGATED CLASS OF CARNATIONS. 



Blizzard — Starr. 
Csesar — Shelmire. 
E. V. Lowe — McGowen. 
Goldsmith — Lenton . 
Nellie Bly — Shelmire 



Hesper — Wight. 
Louise Porsch— McGowen. 
Mrs. H.M.Stanley—Shelmire. 
Pride of Essex — McGowen. 
Sunflower — Lenton. 



212 



CARNATION CULTURE. 



WHITE CLASS OF CARNATIONS. 



Blanch— Dorner. 
Catharine Paul— Imported. 
Delight— Dorner. 
Daisy— Jennings. 
Excelsior— Brinton. 
EcUeweis— Shelmire. 
1^ Jorence Van Reyper— Esex 

Floral Co. 
Geo. Hancock— Dorner. 
Lady Fair— Starr. 
Lizzie McGowen— McGowen. 
Ohio— Paddoc. 



Pearl — Pennock. 

Piru — Lenton. 

Snow Bird — Jennings. 

Silver Lake — Taylor. 

Sea Gull-Hill. 

White Wilder — Pesenecker. 

Wanderer, Larkins, 

White Wings — .Jennings. 

White Dove— Hill. 

Waneta— Chambers. 

White Cap— Lenton. 

White Beauty— Favi^cett. 



SCARLET CLASS OF CARNATIONS. 



Attraction — Hill. 
Constancy— Starr. 
Fred Dorner— Dorner. 
Florence — Fisher. 
Hoosier— Dorner. 
Hector — Lombard . 
Lasandria —Starr. 
Lavina — Lenton. 



Mary— Lenton. 
New Jersey —McGowen. 
Paradise— Lenton. 
Romance— Lenton. 
Red Cross -Hill. 
Rob Roy— Creighton. 
Scarlet Ray — Ward. 
Weatherwood — Creighton. 



CRIMSON CLASS OF CARNATIONS. 

Alexander— Lenton. Pomona— Starr. 

Buster— Lenton. Purple Beauty-McGowen, 

Creole— Dorner. Sambo— Essele. 

lago— McGowen. Sane Meto— FTill. 

Lee Roy— Lenton. Village Maid— Creighton. 

Pupura— Starr. Wide-A wake— Lenton. 

CLASS OF WHITE VARIEGATED CARNATIONS. 



American Flag — Bergman. 
Banner — Fawcett. 
Catharine Storris— McGowen. 
Delaware — Brinton. 
Evangeline — Lenton. 
Fair Rosamond— Hancock. 
Gen. Custer — Shelmire. 
Geneva — Dorner. 
Ideal — Lenton. 
Indiana -Dorner. 



Lady Martha— Brentcn. 
Lora, Lenton. 
Lessetta — Le n ton . 
May Flower — Jennings 
Oddity— B re n ton. 
Orange Blossoms— Jennings. 
Patti— Shelmire. 
Paxton— Fisher. 
Ramond— Lenton. 
Zebra— Ward . 



YEIiLO'W CLASS OF CARNATIONS. 

Amy Phipps— Simmons. Golden Triumph— Lombard. 

This work furnishes a registered list of all the carnations of 
any merit ever grown or cultivated in America, all other lists 



CARNATION CULTURE. 213 

are copied from this work. Quite a number in the list are 
credited, properly, with the name of the party who purchased 
the original stock. All the original stock of carnations were 
imported, some of the kinds reaching back thirty years. A few 
in the above list will not be in the market. for two or three years 
and are of unusual promise. The classification by color and 
with the name of the originator, is considered a surer index of 
merit than any stereotj^ped description. 



PRODUCTIVENESS OF BLOOM. 

R. W. Winterstater's (Ohio) Scientific record of the bloom cut 
from four varieties of Carnations from Oct. 17, '90 to June, 27, '91. 

WILLIAM SWAYNE. 



Cut in 


Short Stems 


Long Stems 


Total 


October, after nth. 


196 


161 


357 


November, 


1585 


983 


2568 


December, 


693 


1394 


2087 


January, 


- 400 


790 


1190 


February, 


400 


485 


885 


March, 


- 485 


745 


1230 


April, 


705 


925 


1630 


May 


- 575 


1550 


2125 


June to 27th. 


2325 


1050 


2375 



7164 8063 15447 

Number of plants, 530; Square feet of bench, 308; Plants per 
square foot, 1.7; Blooms per plant, 30.8; Blooms per square foot, 
51.77. 2300 cuttings were taken from these plants. 

SILVER SPRAY. 



Cut in 


Short Stems 


Long Stems 


Total 


October, after 17 th. 


140 


320 


460 


November, 


90 


734 


824 


December, 


247 


760 


1007 


January, 




705 


705 


February, 


- 


1230 


1230 


March, 




1030 


1030 


April, 


- 


375 


375 


May 




1550 


1550 


June to 27th. 


575 


700 


1275 



1052 7404 8456 

Number of plants, 332; Square feet of bench, 227; 5; number 
plants per square foot, 1.4; Blooms per plant, 25.46; Blooms per 
square foot, 37,16. 

2200 cuttings were taken from these plants. 



2 14 CARNATION CULTURE. 

BUTTERCUP. 



Cut in 


Short Stems 


Long Stem 


IS Total 


October, after 17th. 




130 


130 


November, 


275 


535 


■ 710 


December, 


380 


411 


791 


January, 


325 


497 


822 


February, 


445 


535 


980 


March, 


386 


1175 


2561 


April, 


520 


1275 


1795 


May, 


800 


3825 


4625 


June to 8th. 


- 


375 


375 



3151 8758 11909 

Number of plants, 550; Square feet of bench, 320; Plants per 
square foot, 1.7; Blooms per plant, 21.47; Blooms per square foot, 
36.9. 4300 cuttings were taken from these plants. 

TIDAL WAVE. 



Cut in 




Short Stems 


Long Stems 


Total 


October, 


after 17th. 


57 


234 


291 


November, 


^ 


115 


567 


682 


December, 


- 


- 227 


419 


647 


January, 


- 


215 


421 


686 


February. 


- 


515 


960 


1475 


March, 


- 


610 


1475 


2085 


April, 


- 


- 660 


3725 


4385 


May, 


- 


90 


2000 


2090 


June to 27th. 


- 


575 


475 



2490 10376 12897 

Number of plants, 600; Square feet of bench, 294; Plants per 
square foot, 2.07; Blooms perplant, 21.44; Blooms per square foot, 
43.76. 

3150 cuttings were taken from these plants. 

The above plants were grown in a night temperature of 
from 45 to 55 degrees; an average day temperature some 20 de- 
grees higher. 

Counting cutting, Mr. Ws plants would each average 36i 
florets for the time of record and 4i per month. 

E. T. Lombard, Mass. — "I cut from just 700 plants of Hector 
in a solid bed, from Oct. 13, 1890 to June 1 , 1891, 53700 market- 
able flowers, nearly 76 5-7 flowers per plant and from the same 
plants I took 2000 cuttings;" equaling 5.7 flowers per plant, 
total flowers per plant, 83 2-10." 

W. R. Shelmire, Pa.— "Taking my stock together, each 
plant averages 18 flowers and as many cuttings during the sea- 
son;" equivalent to 54 5=!owers per plant. 



CARNATION CULTURE. 215 

S. Lenton, California. — "I think a good plant here will yield 
in a season 500 bloom. 1 counted today (Jan. 4, '92) 172 blooms and 
buds on Majesty. Avalanche had 107, and all the others of my 
]8 seedlings ranged between these two extremes." 

H, E. Ch[TTY, N. J.— "I cut 10,000 blooms and 3500 cuttings 
from 3500 Lamborn carnation plants up to Jan. 1, 1891, mostly 
on long stems. They were under an area of 801 square feet of 
glass."' One cutting would hardly destroy two flowers of this 
variety, while with kinds that yield axillary buds,as Snowden, it 
would cause the loss of more than two flowers. 

DeWitt Bros., Pa., make the following report through the 
"Florist:" 1330 Henzie plants from Nov. 1, 91, to Feb. 1, 92, 
produced 16218 flowers; making 121 flowers per plant for, three 
months, or a little over 4 florets per month for each plant. 

Two collections of Grace Wilder plants in different houses, ag- 
gregating 2390 plants, from Sept. 1, '91, to Feb. 1, "92, yielded 23453 
flowers. Averaging nearly 10 florets per plant for the ninty days,or 
3 1-10 florets per month for each plant. The 3720 plants oc- 
cupied 2319 square feet of bench room. They further said all the 
plants were in full blooming vigor on Feb. 1, 1892; they 
took no cuttings off the plants until after the first of the year, 
and then from but 3 to 5 cuttings from the most vigorous plants, 
and also that it is damaging to the quantity of holiday bloom of 
plants to take cuttings earlier, 

J. G. BuiiHOws, N. Y.— "T have a house 84x10 set with 970 
Lami>orn caniaxion plants: from Sept. 15 to Jan. 15, '9:^, I picked 
13257 flowers, two thirds on long steins." No report of the cut- 
tings taken. Averages 30 florets per plant, 40 florets per super- 
ficial foot room, and H plant per foot." No variety is as small, 
or as terminal in its buds and bloom as this, and would bear to 
be set much closer. 

J. C. HoAG. Ohio,— "From 1100 plants up to Jan. 1, 1892, I cut 
8575 long and short stem bloom.'' 

Geuiige Smil'II, Vermont.— "I cut 15000 flowers from 800 Grace 
Wilder plants in one season." No report of cuttings taken, 
averaging near 20 florets per plant. 

E. SwAYNE, Pa.— "I cut 190 flowers from a single plant of 
"Aurora" during the season of 1890-91." 

Wm. NiciiOLSo.'-J, Mass. -'-From Sept. 1, '90 to Sept. 1, "91, one 
house of 1700 plants yielded me 121250 marketable flowers, be- 
side about 10000 cuttings. The varieties were Anna Webb, Mrs. 
Mangold, Mrs. Fisher, Century, Tidal Wave, Wilder, Portia, 
etc." This is for a very long season, and on the basis of estimates 
averages 83 flowers per plant. "This same house filled with 
1800 Hectors and the other improved plants up to Jan. 1, 1892, 
has yielded me .30000 bloom.". 

B. W. Ork, Illinois,—"! have just counted, Feb. 10, "92, 75 buds 
and bloom on an average plant of Tendress; last winter one 
plant had 125 buds and bloom on at one time." 



2l6 CARNATION CULTURE. 

Joseph Renakd, Pa.— "I have kept this record: 400 superficial 
feet of bencli filled with Portia from Oct. 1, to Jan 1, 1892 yielded 
17250 flowers:— from 160 feet of bench room planted with J. J. Har- 
rison, I cut 8025 bloom. I also took from the three benches in 
that time 35000 cuttings." 

This would average, without cuttings (iO Portia flowers, 50 
Silver Spray flowers and 50 J. J. Harrison florets per foot of bench 
surface. This estimate is for half the season and the cuttings 
not estimated; surface yield must not be confounded with plant 
yield. 

A sworn statement of C. Akhurst, foreman for H. E. Chittv, 
N. J. says: in Nov. and Dec. 1891, and in January 27 davs of Feb. 
1892. 1 cut off of 3840 Lizzie McGowen plants, 60550 flowers and 
during the same time took off the same plants 50000 cuttings. 
The plants occupied 1100 feet of bench surface. Not estimating 
the loss from the cuttings it would average about 16 flowers per 
plant for nearly half the season, or at the rate of 4 flowers per 
plant per month, and 55i florets per square foot of bench room 
or 111 flowers per foot of bench room for the season. (This 
latter seems a Itttle high and 1 may have mistaken the figures.) 
Adding the cuttings to the florets it would make 26 florets per 
plant for the time, or 52 for the season, or 74 flowers per month 
and 34 plants per square foot of bench room. Thousands of men 
are engageti and much caijitai invested ingrowing carnations, 
notwithstanding there never has been a standard of what 
constitutes a crop of bloom. A farmer knows how many bushels 
of wheat or corn constitutes a full crop. Carnation growers 
have never known how many florets per plant or superficial foot 
of bench room they should receive for a full crop. Growers have 
been harvesting their crop of flowers with seeming satisfaction: 
at the same time not knowing that they were only receiving half 
the capabilities of the plants. Plants range in sterility of bloom 
from the loss of a singfe flower to absolute barrenness. 

Mr. Winterstatter's tabulation of bloom is very complete. The 
other reports are defective. The cuttings taken from a plant is 
a factor to be considered under the present system of treatment. 
Mr. Wight stated at the Philadelphia convention of the Ameri- 
can Carnation Society that in ''some varieties every cutting 
taken cost him ten cents in bloom sacrificed;" some of the re- 
ports are for a part of the season only, and no cuttings men- 
tioned. The best deductions I can make from the foregoing, 
and other records not quoted is: 49 florets per plant for the sea- 
son, 5 per month, 75 per foot bench room, and many varieties 
counted in the estimate. 




"AMERICAN FLAG."" The 
most distinctly marked Stripe 
Carnation in cultivation. A sport 
of Portia, and originated with 
Bergman, of N. J. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 

The following Business Cards represent the Most Reliable 
and Successful Growers, Originators and Dissemi- 
nators of Carnations in America. 



FISHKILL, DUCHESCO., N. Y. 

WHOLESALE FLORIST, ^^rXliefsSrer'"^^ 

Grand Haven, Mich., 

CARNATIONS A SPECIALTY. 

Cuttings, Young Plants, and Field Grown Plants 
in Season. Correspondence Solicited. 



PifiNiTlilM^ '^^^ VIOLETS a Specialty. Rooted Cutting* of both al- 
l/fiulml lUnO ways on Hand in their Proper Season. Field Grown 

Plants in the Fall at moderate prices. Over 20,000 feet of Glass 
for the cultivation of these plants. Send for Circular. 

JOS. RENARD, Unionville, Chester Co., Pa. 



Seedlings, Standards, Novelties of Merit, Plants and Rooted Cut- 
tings at Wholesale. C. J. PENNOCK, The Pines, Kennett Square, Pa. 

0. EISELE, FLORIST. 

N. W. Cor. Eleventh and Jefferson Sts., Phila. 
CARNATIONS a Specialty. New and Standard Varieties. 

■^^^x-it© fox* I*x-io« Xris-t. 

CARNATION, ORANGE BLOSSOM 

And other New and Old Varieties. Rooted Cuttings in the Win- 
ter. Field Grown Plants in the Fall. Send for Circular. 
E. B. JENNINGS, Sotithport, Conn. Box 76. 

Carnation, Violet and Pansy Grower. 

Wm. Swayne, Carnation Specialist, 

KENNETT SQUARE, PA. 

Wholesale Price List on Application of New and Stand- 
ard Sorts. 



HEW SEEDLIHG CARHATIOHS ! 

Of '89, '90 and '91. 

Lavinia— Large Scarlet, very double flowers on long sterna, thrifty grower, 

very fragrant. 
Ramoa—Uark red, striped with white strong grower, flowers on long stems, 

verv fragrant. 
Sunflower— Yellow, striped with red, dwarf, strong plants, free bloomer. 
Buster— Dark red, flowers very large, freely produced, healthy plants. 
Pi ru— White; strong grower, flowers on long stout stems, inclined to be dwarf. 

very fragrant. 
Adelaide- Satiny pink; very large double bloom. 
Goldsmith— Color, a rich yellow, the edges striped with red, flowers of large 

size, long stout stems, vigorous growers and free. 
Marvel— Color, a dark pink, shided with cream, flowers on long stems, healthy 

grower, very fragrant. 
Jennie Parker— Dark pink, changing with age to » pale pink; free bloom- 
er, healthy grower, very fragrant. 
Ideal— White edges, striped with red; free bloomer, vigorous grower. 
Majesty— A. rich dark pink, very doui)Ie, thrifty grower, very fragrant. 
Wide-awake— Dark red, strong flower, free bloomer. 
Evangeline— White, striped with red, free bloomer, healthy grower. 
Parad ise— Bright red, flowers on long stout stems, free bloomer, strong grow 

er, very fragrant. 
Oona— Dark rich pink, large, free bloomer, strong healthy grower, fragrant. 
White Cap— Pure white, large blooms, very double, strong healthy grower, 

free bloomer, very fragrant. 
Avalanche— Dark pink, free bloomer, thrifty grower, very fragrant. 
Romance— Large, bright red, thrifty grower, free bloomer, very fragrant. 
Each plant 25 cents, whole collection, $3 00. 

beroy- Rich deep red, vigorous grower, 
lary— Deep scarlet, free bloomer. 
Alexandria- Dark red, large, strong grower. 
Lessetta— White, striped with red, very fragrant. 
Lora— White, striped with red, stout, long stems. 
Mabel— Rich pink, free and fragrant. 

These Carnations have been carefully selected from thousands of seedings. 
If you want larger Carnations which are not in this list, 1 have them three or 
four inches in diameter. 8end for them. 

S. LENTON, Carnation Grower, Piru City. Ventura County, California. 
*^»;^ THE PATCH IN THE BELT.*^5<^- 

J. H. LADLKY & SONS, 

J. H. Ladley. George T.adley. Edward Ladley. 
CARNATIONS A SPECIALTY. fl^mm®t S(|yiaF©e) ^9i, 

GRACE WILDER, 

BENJ. GREY, - MALDEN MASS, 



C. E. BRINTON, FLORIST, 

Originator of Carnation Seedlings, Excelsior, Delaware, Dia- 
mond, Lady Martha and Odity. Excelsior will be grown 
in quantity for the Trade in 1893. 



HOLESALE I"LOEIST, 

BliOOMSBVRG, PA. 

JOHN xT. GONNRLY, 

BRYN M^WR, PA., 

Wholesale Grower of Carnation Flowers, And Rooted 
Cuttings of all the Standard Kinds, and Novelties 
of Merit?. Send for Price List 



CARNATI0NS3 

ORCHIDS, \ FLORIST, 

DiixJbS:^^ ^ GERMANTOWN, PHILA., PA. 



Richmond, Indiana, 

FINEICARNATIONS, 

All Worthy Novelties in all Lines of our Trade. 



Wholesale G»ower of 

CARNATIONS, COLEUS and GERANIUMS- 

BOOTED CCTTINGS OF BEST TABIETIE8. 



LOCKLAND LUMBER CO., 

LOCKLAND, OHIO. 

Wood Work for Commercial Greenhouses. Our method 
of construction is original with us — is satisfactory 
in Every Respect and any ordinary me- 
chanic can put up the Work. 



4 and 5 inches Square. Nothing as good for walls. Write 
for circulars and prices. Clear Cypress used exclusive. 

A. M. STEARNS^ Manager. 

GEORGE CREIGHTON/ 

GROWER OF 

Gj^RNjlTIONSi VIOLETS. 

NEW HAMBURG, N. Y. 

Address after Miy i, 1892, POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 



J. G. VAUGHAN, 

US & 148 WASHINGTON ST., CHICAGO. 



llHHlil^ 



IN SKASON: 

Greenhouses: Western Springs, Illinois. 




New White Carnation PURITAN. 

This Grand Variety with a Trial of Two Years promises to 
be one of Merit. The Flowers are Large, borne on 
Long Stiff Stems of Great Substance, al- 
ways of the purest White and an 

Send for Circular with Prices. Catalogues of Nursery 

and Florist Stock on Application. 

WOOD BROTHERS, Fishkill, N. Y. 

ALBERT M. HERR, 

L B. 338. LANCASTER, P. A. 

All novelties are carefully tested and only those of positive 

merit listed. Quality is the first consideration in 

Cuttings, Plants, and Varieties. 

Send for lAsts, Satisfaction Assured. Car- 
nationSj Smilaoc^ JPansies, 

CHOICE C^I^NJITIONS. 

§■ 1 7=^r - ^. I ft 

NEW AND STANDARD VARIETIES. 

And a number of Seedlings and Sports of merit, Pips, Rooted 

Cuttings and Plants in Pots in the winter and Spring. 

field grown plants in the Fall. Send for circular. 

IV. R. Sheltnire^ Avondale, Chester Co., Pa. 

laTE ARE SITUATED IN THE CARRTATIOW BELT. 



QELORQR SMIT^H, 

SEEDLINGS AND STANDARD VARIETIES, 

Ivlanchiester, Vermont. 



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R- J. MENDENHALL, The Pioneer Florist of the Northwest, 

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 

ALL KINDS OF CUT FLOWERS IN SEASON, 

lo^ ^^ ^<^*^^^ ^^d Wholesale, and of plants the flneat. Roses, Carnations. Sml- 
ux, ijnchsias, Begon as. Marguerites, Ageratums, Geraniums, Petunias. Double 
White Primroses. Palms. Ferns, White Daisies, Chrysanthemums, and all other 
Plants usually Qrowu by a fiwt-class florist. Send for Catalogue. 



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Rooted Cuttings. Rooted Cuttings. 

A Full List of the MoBt 
Profitable Kinds to grow. 

Exhibition Prize Varieties 
and Valuable Noyelties. 

ALL AT MODERATE PRICES. 



Address, - H. E. CHITTY, 

Paterson, Ngav Jersey. 

Hie Florisrs Ma^^ 

PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY, BY 

A.T.DeLaMarePr't'giPiib.Co.Ltd. 

I70 FULTON STREET. N. Y. 

Advertising Rates, $1.00 per inch, each Insertion. 

DiBcounts on Long Term Contracts. 

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $1.00 PER YEAR. 

It is a Live Weekly, will keep you Posted on all Topics of 
Interest, and circulates among the Traile Only. 



The Cottage Garden- 

East Moriches, New York. 

O. W. "WARD, Manager. 

CARNATIONS, VIOLETS, AND PANSIES, 

Rooted Cuttings, Plants from Pots and Field Grown. 

Plants in Season. Cut Blooms in Quantity. 

Best ot Stock. Newest Varieties. 

and Seedlings. 



sESKri> i^on. i»:r.xoe3 x^ijst. 




Disseminator of The New Variety, 



'9 

With other Promising Varieties to be Marketed Later 
Also the Best Standard Varieties. Salem, Ohio. 



M. T. JLOMSARn, IVaylaitd, Mass, 

Introducer of I^a"o-\7V 0-A-3E=Ll>a"-A.TI03NrS, 

and Grower of Standard Varieties. Sending out Rooted 
Cuttings, Small Pot Plants in Winter and Spring, and field 
grown plants in Autumn. Send for Catalogue. 



